Nixon, Texas – A 10-year-old boy from Nixon, Texas, has admitted to fatally shooting a man in his sleep two years ago, according to the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office. The victim, Brandon O’Quinn Rasberry, 32, was found dead at the Lazy J RV Park in his RV. The incident took place about 60 miles east of San Antonio, Texas.
Authorities became aware of the child’s involvement in the shooting after a report from a principal at the Nixon Smiley Independent School District. The 10-year-old boy had allegedly made threats to assault and kill another student on a school bus. Following this report, a deputy was dispatched to the school to investigate the incident.
During the investigation, the boy confessed to the deputy that he had shot and killed a man two years prior. He revealed that he visited his grandfather at the Lazy J RV Park, where he took a 9 mm pistol from the glove compartment of his grandfather’s truck. He then entered Rasberry’s RV and shot him in the head while he was asleep. The boy also admitted to firing the pistol again into the couch inside the RV before leaving the scene.
Despite the confession, murder charges will not be filed against the child due to Texas law, which states that a child under the age of ten does not have criminal culpability. The boy was seven years old at the time of the murder, just one week shy of his eighth birthday. Following the confession, he was taken to a child advocacy center for an interview and evaluation.
The weapon used in the murder was later found at a pawn shop in Seguin, Texas, confirming the boy’s account of the events. An investigation also revealed that the weapon was the same one used in Rasberry’s murder. The child was subsequently placed on a 72-hour emergency detention and taken to a psychiatric hospital in San Antonio for evaluation and treatment.
The boy is currently in custody in Gonzales County, awaiting his court date. It remains unclear if he has legal representation at this time. Authorities continue to investigate the case, looking for more information on the tragic incident at the Lazy J RV Park.