STUDENT/PROFESSOR REPLIES

DISCUSSION #1 STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #1 Rayjeem Williams

The crime I choose to identify is currently an ongoing investigation on the death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito. In this case, Gabby Petito and boyfriend Brian Laundrie decided to take an adventure cross country to visit varies state and national parks across the western United States. During the trip the couple was filming varies activities for their tick toc account that gained many fans. Gabby also kept in touch with her family very often throughout the trip. Somewhere on the trip the couple started to have different altercations where on one occasion witness has called the police stating on the side of the road there is a male and female currently in a physical fight following an argument. The witness stated, “the gentleman was slapping the girl”. The couple ran up and down the sidewalk where he preceded to continuously hit her then decided to hop in the car and drive off.

According to Gabby’s family the last time hearing from her was on August 30, where they don’t believe the message was written by her. After the family haven’t been able to get in touch with her, on September 11 they filed a missing person report, authorities took a visit to the boyfriend Brian’s family home where they denied talking and instead gave the authorities their attorney information. Allegedly, Brian went missing on September 13 according to his family. On September 19, human remains were found at the last known location of the couple, and on 21st of September the coroner office confirms they were indeed the remains of Gabby Petitio. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation.

Since this case is currently an open investigation an official reasoning of why this crime was committed has not been determined, but it can be assumed this crime took place due to the raging anger of the couple from multiple witness statements of arguing and physical abuse taking place between the two. I don’t believe this crime was a learned behavior, I believe it was more of a rage and losing control of tempers due to intense arguments. If indeed the cause of this crime was rage, I do feel that the criminal justice system is well equipped to help offenders such as Brian. Major counseling and anger management classes could definitely help contain unreasonable tempers. Although once this investigation is complete the offender will have to potentially serve major time, that does not mean help should be withheld. Every offender should have the opportunity for some form of reform of counseling mechanisms that can help cope with demons they may have.

Resource:

Maxouris, C. C. (2021, October 12). Timeline of Gabby Petito case. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/16/us/gabby-petito-timeline-missing-case/index.html

DISCUSSION #1 STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #2 Jason Miller

Last week Timothy George Simpkins opened fire in a classroom inside Timberview High School in Arlington, Texas. Two people were shot, and two others suffered unspecified injuries. Simpkins was later taken into custody on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Authorities explain that the shooting happened because of an earlier altercation. However, Simpkin's family claims "their son was repeatedly bullied and robbed at school."

The motivations of this recent shooting remain unknown; however, the suspect's family states, "he was repeatedly bullied and robbed." According to authorities, " video has been circulating throughout social media showing the subject in the middle of a fight within the school." His grandmother told reporters that her grandson "is a loving and caring individual, he was a liked individual till he reached his senior year. He has been looking forward to graduating and doing something with his life." According to his parents, "we are not trying to justify the gun that was brought, but when you are being bullied, when there are bullies, throughout this nation, you hear of young people committing suicide."

Is the current criminal justice system equipped to help offenders "unlearn" criminal behavior? In this case, CHANGE THE GUN LAWS! The increase of school-related shootings is unacceptable in today's society. As stated before, the claims by suspect's parents, he was bullied because he had access to things that other kids did not have." Children are rejected by their peers for a variety of reasons, but most often because they are perceived as being "different." Children who peer reject are significantly at a greater risk for chronic antisocial behavior than those who are not rejected (Cillessen & Mayeux, 2004; Rose, Swenson, & Waller, 2004, p. 201).

Reference

The Associated Press (October 8, 2021) A Student Arrested in a School Shooting is Released. His family says he was Bullied https://www.npr.org/20210/08/1044341022/mansfield-arlington-texas-timberview-high-school-shooting-released

Steinbuch, Y. (October 7, 2021) Family of suspected Texas school shooter says teen was bullied for fancy clothes, $35K car https://nypost.com/2021/10/09/suspected-texas-school-shooter-timothy-george-simpkins-was-bullied-family

Bartol, C. Criminal Behavior A Psychological Approach 11th Edition Chapter 2