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Published: Oct. 23, 2019, 3:05 p.m.

Illinois prosecutors have charged a 9-year-old child with five (5!) counts of murder over a house fire that occurred in April. Of the five people who perished, three were babies aged 2 and 1.  Woodford County State\u2019s Attorney Gregg Minger filed charges against the unnamed child; the charges include five counts of first-degree murder, two counts of arson, and one count of aggravated arson \u2014 which implies that the child was aware people were in the home when he or she started the fire.

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Critics of the prosecutor\u2019s decision to levy charges against the child say that research suggests kids at that age are not aware of the seriousness of their actions. The minimum age of prosecution of children, they say, should be at least 14, because scientific brain research shows that children are not capable of understanding or appreciating consequences. Further studies, critics say, show that children should not be criminally responsible at a lower age than 14.

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Are the 5 counts of murder against this 9-year-old child excessive, as critics claim? Or are they warranted, given the nature of the arsonist acts? What in our society could influence a 9-year-old to commit such a heinous deed?

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