Minneapolis, United States - September 20, 2024

In an incident straight out of a video game scenario, a 10-year-old boy was apprehended by Minneapolis police after he allegedly drove a stolen Hyundai Sonata through a crowded playground, turning a place of play into a scene reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto. This shocking event occurred near Nellie Stone Johnson Community School on September 20.

The young suspect, whose identity is being protected, was charged with second-degree assault, reckless driving, and receiving stolen property. He was booked into Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center, marking not his first, but what might be his most audacious encounter with law enforcement.

Police Chief Brian O'Hara revealed that this child's criminal record is alarmingly extensive for his age, including threats of violence and previous auto theft attempts. Just last August, he allegedly threatened a woman with a knife during another carjacking attempt, chillingly stating, "I will gut you."

The boy's history with the law doesn't end there; he's been a suspect in over 12 cases, including auto theft and assault with a dangerous weapon, with his criminal activities starting when he was just nine years old.

His mother, speaking to local media, expressed confusion over her son's actions, denying that his home environment could explain his behavior. "Why he does it, I don’t know. He doesn’t come from a bad home. I’m a single mom. His father passed away. Kids who are in the community who are older are getting him into that. He’s traumatized by these older kids. … I want my son to get help. He’s a 10-year-old kid."

Video footage of the latest incident captured the harrowing scene as the boy drove the Hyundai through the playground multiple times, narrowly missing children, while teachers frantically tried to safeguard them.

Chief O'Hara commented on the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that while incarceration might not be the solution for a child, immediate intervention is crucial. "Prison is not an acceptable option for a 10-year-old boy. But the adults who can stop this behavior going forward must act now to help this child and his family."