A YOUNG boy has admitted to killing a stranger over two years ago, but won’t face charges for the crime due to state law.
On April 12, a 10-year-old boy confessed to the murder of Brandon Rasberry in 2022 — a case that has been left unsolved by police for years.
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The child suspect allegedly threatened to kill another student on a bus and when asked about the incident, he admitted to shooting and killing Rasberry two years prior, said authorities in Gonzales County, Texas.
This immediately relaunched the investigation into his murder.
Rasberry, 32, was found in his RV on January 18, 2022, in Nixon, Texas — an hour east of San Antonio — with a single gunshot wound to his head and two minor graze wounds on each of his hands, according to the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office.
Police were frantic for answers about the crime saying, “We will leave no stone unturned in our search for the truth about what happened to you, Brandon Rasberry,” according to the Daily Mail.
During his interview with police, the boy reportedly described Rasberry’s cold-blooded murder in detail.
The child’s grandfather lived at the same RV Park as Rasberry, and the boy saw the 32-year-old walking around the lot, according to police.
On the night of the murder, the boy said he took a 9-millimeter pistol, which he described as “dirt and army green” in color, from the glovebox of his grandfather’s truck and went into Rasberry’s RV, according to the New York Post.
“The Child stated he observed Brandon sleeping in his bed and approached Brandon and discharged the firearm into Brandon striking him one time in the head,” police said.
“The child stated as he was leaving the RV he discharged the firearm another time into the couch inside the RV. The child then exited the RV and returned the firearm to the glovebox of the truck.”
The child told investigators he didn’t know Rasberry and the attack was unprovoked.
He also admitted that he didn’t even know the victim’s name.
“The child was also asked if he was mad at Brandon for some reason or if Brandon had ever done anything to him to make him mad, the child stated no,” police said.
Police were able to find the suspected weapon at a pawn shop that the child’s grandfather had since sold it to.
The bullets were later matched with the shells collected from the crime scene.
He needs to be prayed on. He needs to be comforted… He’s forgiven. And he can still be saved. He’s so young. He’s definitely tormented by something.
Kenneth, Brandon Rasberry’s father
‘IT’S JUST TRAGIC’
Rasberry’s family was shocked to learn who was responsible for the murder.
“Finding out it was a 7-year-old that committed the murder, a senseless murder at that, it’s just tragic. It’s kind of hard to wrap your head around,” Rasberry’s brother, Jonathan Fojtik, told CBS affiliate KENS.
“Brandon was a loving person. He’d give the shirt off his back for anyone.”
Fojtik is skeptical about the boy’s confession even though he said he had no motive and didn’t know Rasberry.
“I feel like the boy knew exactly what he was doing,” Fojtik said.
“Why wasn’t the child being supervised more.”
The victim’s father felt similar to Fotjik but also said he forgave the boy and he could “still be saved.”
“This isn’t anywhere the suspect we thought it was. This is a little boy, for reasons that I’m sure these counselors and case managers and all of that, that’s going to pick that poor little boy’s brain apart,” Rasberry’s father Kenneth told local ABC affiliate KSAT.
“He needs to be prayed on. He needs to be comforted… He’s forgiven. And he can still be saved. He’s so young. He’s definitely tormented by something.”
The young boy has not been charged with murder because he was only seven when he committed the crime.
Texas law doesn’t allow a child to be held responsible for a crime until they are 10 years old.
Finding out it was a 7-year-old that committed the murder, a senseless murder at that, it’s just tragic.
Jonathan Fojtik, Brandon Rasberry’s brother
After confessing to making terroristic threats against a classmate, the boy was placed on a 72-hour emergency detention.
He was then taken to a psychiatric hospital in San Antonio, Texas, for evaluation and treatment.
Following the evaluation, he was booked on charges related to making terroristic threats and is currently being held in the county jail.
Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District has since released a statement informing the public and families of other students that the boy will not return to their elementary school.
“Nixon-Smile CISD would like to reassure parents, students and the community that the safety of our students and staff is of utmost importance,” Superintendent Jeff Van Auken wrote in a letter, according to KENS.
“We extend our gratitude to the Gonzales County Sheriff’s (Office) for their unwavering commitment to maintaining the safety of our schools and community.”
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