An 8-year-old Louisiana boy intentionally shot and killed his elderly caregiver after playing a violent video game , authorities say . Marie Smothers was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head in a mobile home park in Slaughter , Louisiana , the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff 's Department said in a prepared statement . Slaughter is about 20 miles north of Baton Rouge . Authorities identified the woman as the boy 's `` caregiver , '' without stating whether she is a relative . But CNN affiliate WBRZ reported that the woman was the boy 's grandmother . Smothers was 87 , public records show . `` By accounts of relatives of the victim , as well as friends of the family , the victim and the juvenile had a normal , loving , relationship and even shared the same bedroom , '' the sheriff 's department said . The gun belonged to Smothers , WBRZ reported . CNN affiliate WAFB reported that a man identifying himself as the boy 's father also said the gun belongs to Smothers . Although the boy initially told investigators that he accidentally shot the woman Thursday while playing with a firearm , the probe led authorities to believe he `` intentionally shot Mrs. Smothers in the back of the head as she sat in her living room watching television , '' the sheriff 's department statement said . The boy wo n't face charges . Under Louisiana law , a child younger than 10 is exempt from criminal responsibility . `` We have a child who does not know the impact of the consequences of the act he committed , '' Sclynski Legier , a lawyer , told CNN affiliate WAFB . `` He truly does n't understand that . '' The boy is now with his parents . Neighbors say the mobile home park is generally a quiet and safe place , and they wonder why precautions had n't been taken . `` Where did she have the gun ? Where was It placed ? Was it in his eyesight ? That 's what kind of thoughts are going through my head , '' Johnnie Scott told WBRZ . Violence in video games . While the motive is unclear , the sheriff 's department implied the child 's activities in a violent virtual world may have led to the killing . `` Although a motive for the shooting is unknown at this time investigators have learned that the juvenile suspect was playing a video game on the Play Station III 'Grand Theft Auto IV , ' a realistic game that has been associated with encouraging violence and awards points to players for killing people , just minutes before the homicide occurred . '' The game 's maker , Take Two Interactive , rejected the link . `` Ascribing a connection to entertainment -- a theory that has been disproven repeatedly by multiple independent studies -- both minimizes this moment and sidesteps the real issues at hand , '' the company said in a statement . Studies by reputable academic and medical sources have come to a variety of conclusions . The Obama administration has called for more research . Critics of video game violence and industry supporters have long debated whether virtual violence leads to actual violence . The argument has become more heated since 26 people died in a December shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut . The shooter , Adam Lanza , was reportedly obsessed with violent video games . Is media violence damaging to kids ? Speaking soon after the shootings at Sandy Hook , Colorado Gov . John Hickenlooper , who led his state through grieving after a mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora , Colorado , speculated about a connection . `` There might well be some direct connection between people who have some mental instability and when they go over the edge -- they transport themselves , they become part of one of those video games , '' he said on CNN 's `` State of the Union . '' `` Perhaps that 's why all these assault weapons are used . '' A month after the Sandy Hook shooting , John Riccitiello , president and CEO of the video game maker Electronic Arts , said in a conference call with bank analysts there was n't a connection , but the industry faces a `` perception issue , '' the BBC reported . Opinion : Video games did n't cause Newtown shooting . Vice President Joe Biden , who is heading an inquiry into the causes of gun violence , has floated the idea of taxing violent games and sending proceeds to help victims and their families , Forbes.com reported .
The victim was adopted , public records show . The child belonged to the caregiver , two news affiliates report . The boy ' n't face charges because he is younger than 10 . The video game maker denies any of its game might have involved killing .