ListNook

129 Comments

LetzGetz May 1, 2026 +622

Child defending his mom or themself from a dead beat daddy/step dad. Incredibly sad, hope the child gets the support they need.

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terrorrier May 1, 2026 +124

I feel like a lot of people know a kid who’s shot their wife-beating dad. I do and I meet others who have similar stories.

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OutInABlazeOfGlory May 4, 2026 +13

> Sheriff came out for the report and "it's about time someone took care of him" Cops will say this after doing f****** nothing to take care of that problem themselves.

Seeker-N7 May 4, 2026 +1

They can't just shoot the guy.

OutInABlazeOfGlory May 4, 2026 +3

They can arrest him the first time they get a DV call? Plenty of times they’ll know about something like this and just not intervene

Seeker-N7 May 4, 2026 +1

Problem is proof. Sure they arrest him, then they have to release him and he's just going to beat his family harder. Conviction needs the family to step forward, and that's the hard part.

OutInABlazeOfGlory May 4, 2026 +2

I just told you that plenty of times they don’t even try.

Seeker-N7 May 4, 2026

Because there's no point. They arrest him and then what?

OutInABlazeOfGlory May 4, 2026 +2

Who says there’s no point? They have a record now that he was arrested before, and they can still *try* to prosecute him. Who are you and why are you going to bat for cops this hard? They’re all bastards.

FlatSpinMan May 2, 2026 +90

Wow. Different worlds.

terrorrier May 2, 2026 -23

I think that kind of violence against family can happen in any country, any class. It’s all the same world.

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MaygarRodub May 2, 2026 +24

I'd say most other countries don't have easy access to firearms.

FloraoftheRift May 2, 2026 +28

Abuse is something I know about, but not shooting a family member. Not gonna lie, it's not normal that you've had that much exposure to situations where family members gun down others, whether or not it is justified. It can happen, but it does not happen as much as you think. You're just an exception.

terrorrier May 3, 2026 +4

Just one person I know. We do have a huge gun issue in the US, so of course some of that is playing out within the family too cause that’s who people live and argue with. All those little “rare” stories impact the whole community and they remember for years, that’s my main point.

Arboreal_Web May 2, 2026 +20

That’s not what that phrase means at all, don’t be obtuse. It doesn’t mean literally different planets or planes of existence, it means wildly different ways of living life, wildly different social circles. I, like that other person probably, don’t know a single person who “shot their wife-beating dad”. Your generalized assumption is a (pretty fucked up) self-report. Jesus, Mary, and Josef Stalin.

terrorrier May 3, 2026 +2

I know what it means. But they are simply mistaken that there are different worlds where this doesn’t or cannot happen. Seriously, is it the wealthy? The educated? The religious? They all do homicides. Anyway my fucked up self report is that I went to university with a guy who had an abusive dad he shot. Like…. How would that say anything about me? It was literally a nice school and he was like, an abuse victim.

Plumhawk May 4, 2026 +6

I'm 53 years old and don't know anyone that was forced to shoot a family member in self-defense. Yes, different worlds.

MeltingMandarins May 3, 2026 +2

I’m Australian. I don’t even know “a lot” of people who own a firearm, let alone have used one in self defence.

terrorrier May 4, 2026

You all have really nice gun control laws. That offers a lot of protection. A lot of us want that in the US.

International_Goat31 May 2, 2026 +2

There are definitely multiple cases where a child snapped and hit, shouted at, or beat up someone abusive/dangerous in their household/family. The whole children-with-easy-access-to-guns-in-the-home is an almost uniquely American thing though.

Sarcastic_Sanchez May 2, 2026 +30

“A lot of people” Really? Like how many are we talking here?

terrorrier May 2, 2026 -31

Like, probably millions in America. It’s a shocking kind of event so all it takes is one kid in your hometown or university who’s done it and everyone will know.

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Yolandi2802 May 2, 2026 +8

Hey, kids shoot each other while messing around with unsecured firearms in America. Every single day.

cinderparty May 2, 2026 +4

Not shot, but I know a couple who kicked their dad’s asses for it.

OutInABlazeOfGlory May 4, 2026 +1

I count myself lucky I’ve never had a good reason to fight my dad

whowhodillybar May 1, 2026 +749

\> Police say the gun was fired in self-defense and all individuals involved lived in the same household. Well this sounds like an incredibly sad situation all around. Edit for proper quote.

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SteelyEyedHistory May 1, 2026 +442

So he was probably beating the kid or the kid’s mom and the kid shot him.

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flyingthroughspace May 1, 2026 +88

[This is the exact plot of A Time for Mercy by John Grisham. Definitely worth a read.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Time_for_Mercy)

Bloated_Hamster May 1, 2026 +49

A classic SVU episode as well. Although in that one I think it ended up being murder, not self defense because there was no active danger, but they couldn't prove if the kid or mom pulled the trigger

plasmicthoughts May 4, 2026 +2

Yup! It was a heavy read but a solid one. It stays on the mind after you're done.

KimJongFunk May 1, 2026 +441

If you have never needed to defend your life against an adult member of your family, then consider yourself very lucky. I know what it is like and I’m sure many people in these comments do as well.

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CockamouseGoesWee May 1, 2026 +163

Yeah I honestly survived by fawning but sometimes that just made people hit harder because I wasn't responding. I still have scars on my ass from those beatings. Also don't grab people's necks. I had to chomp down and not let go more than once

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nfld223 May 1, 2026 +99

The folks who did that to you are monsters and never deserved you

EleanorSeesThings May 2, 2026 +42

Fawning saved me, too. That was a tough one to work through, but I have a great therapist who has been so excellent to work with. I see you 💚

Mammoth-Record-7786 May 3, 2026 +3

I just learned a new term and found out I should probably be talking to a professional.

Fallouttgrrl May 2, 2026 +41

So many people don't even recognize fawning when it's mentioned as a fear response Those who do usually have some trauma like this

Skatefasteat May 1, 2026 +46

I'm glad you survived that environment. Fucked up shit

whteverusayShmegma May 1, 2026 +34

I have so much admiration for kids who weren’t too scared to defend another family member from DV.

Starlightriddlex May 2, 2026 +12

Yep... Sometimes it's hard to think other people never had to experience that. But I'm glad they exist.

1d10 3 days ago +1

When I meet people who are neurotypical and never experienced childhood trauma, it feels like meeting a different species that just happens to look the same and use the same language. it's more acute then even the difference between growing up poor or rich. I've met people who grew up in violent wealthy families, they had more in common with me then the people who grew up in poor suportive families.

Inimicus33 May 2, 2026 -13

What? If you never had to defend yourself against an adult member of your family, consider yourself normal. I'm sorry that it happened to you, but let's not pretend that getting attacked by your parents is the norm

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garygnuandthegnus2 May 2, 2026 +16

They did not say it was normal... what is wrong with your comprehension? Just trying to argue? Go outside. Get a hobby. Leave people alone.

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IcyBookkeeper5315 May 1, 2026 +7

Wth does this even mean?

sweng123 May 1, 2026 +1

They are expressing dismay that "many people" in these comments experienced a childhood where they had to defend themselves against an adult family member.

Skatefasteat May 1, 2026 +1

I know. Life is f****** bullshit for some man

Skatefasteat May 1, 2026 -4

They said many people had to deal with this shit as kids WTFUCK!

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thistook5minutes May 2, 2026 +23

This story reminds me of a song by one of Jack white’s bands, The Reconteurs called Carolina Drama. A sad story in a beautiful tune.

glasshomonculous May 2, 2026 +6

You seem to know an awful lot about it. I assume you’re the milkman

HumanChicken May 1, 2026 +126

I hope we can all agree that it’s an absolute tragedy that it came to this rather than some happy ending.

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Above-bar May 1, 2026 +205

This might have been the happiest ending the kid could have had. Ending someone’s parental rights is very difficult.

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abradolph May 1, 2026 +41

I can see why you'd say that, clearly they were in a dangerous situation with an abusive adult. However, being in the type of situation where it's literally kill or be killed and taking the other person's life is going to be extremely traumatic, regardless of what they've put you through. The happiest ending would've been this adult being arrested, the child being safe, and the adult facing legal justice for what they've done. Instead, this child is going to have to deal with the trauma of the events that unfolded to lead to this, the act itself, and possibly guilt.

Above-bar May 2, 2026 +7

I want to live in a world where that could happen also, but we don’t and it’s unhealthy to pretend.

KlymenosMEGALOS May 2, 2026 +16

It happens all the time and it's unhealthy to pretend it doesn't.

CartersPlain May 1, 2026 +54

It always stuns me when people say things like OP did. For some people, this IS the happy ending.

sweng123 May 1, 2026 +50

And that's the tragedy. I'm not sure you and OP disagree, here.

phxtravis May 1, 2026 +29

Killing someone, even in self defense, can have mental repercussions, especially for a child.

BasroilII May 2, 2026 +11

I don't think OP was suggesting that being free of domestic violence wasn't a good thing. But you can celebrate the freedom that death gives you, without celebrating the act of killing.

Efficient_Heart5378 May 1, 2026 +6

We have no details other than they think it was in self defense for now. But this is an investigation and no other details have been released. Let's wait until those important details are before jumping to conclusions that this could be a "happy" ending.

ellyanah May 1, 2026 +39

This is a happy ending for the people who were being abused. And the abuser, who gives a f*** what kind of ending he got, he deserved worse.

Efficient_Heart5378 May 1, 2026 -19

There is nothing in the very short article to imply they were being abused. They assume it is in self defense for now but they are still investigating and haven't released further details. It's important not to jump to conclusions and fill in the blanks with our imaginations.

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BrothelWaffles May 1, 2026 +22

If they weren't being abused then what would they have been defending themself from? 'Cause like, I don't think you're allowed to shoot someone just for trying to make you eat your vegetables or do your homework.

sowhat4 May 1, 2026 -15

Um - you'll note that the child is not in custody. If it were a matter of vegetable avoidance, the kid would have been hauled in. Children as young as 10 have been arrested for murder and take from the home. The cops aren't going to do an arrest or charge someone if they are pretty certain that no charges will stick. Maybe the child or his/her mother was all beaten up? Maybe the father had a RO against coming back to the house? It would take a lot to convince a ***normal*** child to murder a parent. If the kid were a little sociopath, the story would read differently.

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BrothelWaffles May 1, 2026 +20

Did you misread what I said?

IllustriousPhone98 May 3, 2026 +2

Nah. One less abuser. It's a happy ending for the world.

cake_toss May 3, 2026

I hope we can all agree that "some happy ending" is a fantasy that only people who have never been in a situation like this can cook up.

vox_populi75 May 2, 2026 +16

Sympathy for the child. But women have been charged and incarcerated for killing their abusers.

Saneless May 2, 2026 +15

I saw a Documentary about that once. It was called Chicago and it was more fun than it should have been

MeltheCat May 2, 2026 +6

He had it coming.

txrazorhog May 2, 2026 +1

I used to live in Benicia. Nice little town.

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wes_wyhunnan May 1, 2026 +200

I’m not sure a child acting in self defense is quite the same thing as a mass shooting at a church.

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gggg_4_l May 1, 2026 +80

Adults can do horrible shit to kids without needing a gun lmao. Tf are you on in the second paragraph?

Consistent-Winter-67 May 1, 2026 +137

you are trying to be all high and mighty on a post where a child was forced to kill to defend themself. Does that make you feel good? To act morally superior over a child who had to take a life? Would you say the same with a child who stabbed someone in self defence? Used a rock?

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Th3_Admiral_ May 1, 2026 +152

>for all of you geniuses saying self defence, if no one had guns they wouldn’t need a gun An adult can still do awful things to a child without a gun. You seriously didn't think this comment through at all before posting it, did you?

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MissionCreeper May 1, 2026 +92

Hold on, it says self defense, you might not want to jump on this one. Edit: as of this comment we dont know what the child was defending against, the adult may not have had a firearm

CerebralWeevil May 1, 2026 +35

Buddy it was a child vs an adult the child would absolutely need a gun; this is a dumbass use of that phrase.

ConsiderationOk4035 May 1, 2026 +58

If the shooting was in self-defense, it may well be justifiable. I would withhold judgment until we have more details.

Amazing_Stress_8820 May 1, 2026 +8

How dare you! You know this is the internet, right? /s

ConsiderationOk4035 May 1, 2026 +8

I’ve always been a rebel.

HummaKavula95 May 1, 2026 +31

“If no one had guns they wouldn’t need a gun” What the f*** are you talking about??? Did you even read what you wrote??? You can still be attacked without a gun…

just_jedwards May 1, 2026 +23

Yeah, for sure. There's definitely no reason why a child would need to use a gun to defend themselves (or another person)from an adult man they're related to. They probably should have employed the 100% effective "ask nicely" technique. Just say "Hey, adult man, please stop beating me and/or the other person you're beating on. You're not allowed to do that." That'll get the job done. America has a lot of problems related to gun violence, but a child defending themselves from an adult is rarely one of them.

DebeliHrvat May 1, 2026 +26

Imagine being so desperate to shit on America that you shit on domestic violence survivors in the process

Honeycove91 May 1, 2026 +34

There is still time to delete this

Wintersage7 May 1, 2026 +45

Yes. Next time we should definitely allow the adult male to abuse the child.

MyNameIsRay May 1, 2026 +21

Youre going to feel pretty silly when you realize how easy it is for an adult to overpower a child...

sylbug May 1, 2026 +16

This is a case of a child defending themselves from a violent adult. It would probably help if America afforded children basic human rights and protected them from abusive parents, but barring that I'd say a child would have enormous difficulty defending themselves from a violent, unarmed adult without a gun or similar weapon.

cinderparty May 1, 2026 +31

I hate guns, and actually agree no one should have them, but it’s also dumb to imply that no one would ever need to kill someone in self defense if guns didn’t exist.

melloyello1215 May 1, 2026 +20

Wow, you are unintelligent

YesInquisitor May 1, 2026 +14

Yes because all violence in this world only stems from guns, righttt. What an idiot

McKlown May 1, 2026 +3

Defending child abuse? Is this really the hill you want to die on?

cwx149 May 1, 2026 +7

I mean I'm sure kids kill their abusers in other places it's just with knives and cars and poison

Grizzwold37 May 1, 2026 +7

Real room-temperature IQ on you, eh pal?

st1802015 May 1, 2026 -7

Warmed up now you’ve commented genius

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joseph-1998-XO May 1, 2026 +7

Almost every police system in the world will bring a gun to a threat with a knife? Do you think they’d respond with knives? You think they would have “fair” fights?

st1802015 May 1, 2026 -6

Look at the UK literally a few days ago any guns?

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joseph-1998-XO May 1, 2026 +3

You’re telling me the military and police in the UK have no guns? They certainly do..

AllMikesNoAlphas May 1, 2026 +8

Yes because there is zero disparity in size, skill, or strength amongst the 8 billion people in the world. Have you ever stopped to think how dumb you might be?

baamazon May 1, 2026 +8

You think an adult needs a gun to threaten a child's life?

asmit10 May 1, 2026 +9

You are brain dead.

Tyrant4566 May 1, 2026 +25

Why do you want to prevent people from defending themselves?

WizardOfIF May 1, 2026 +6

Right, in proper countries the strongest person can just beat the c*** out of weaker people without fear of retaliation. It's just not fair when small people can use guns to defend themselves against larger aggressors.

DetroitvsEveryone242 May 1, 2026 +11

If this was the UK I guess he’d be jailed for using a knife in self defense, or posting something ever so slightly controversial online

ManifestDestinysChld May 1, 2026 +3

Damn, have you gotten enough attention yet? What's it going to take?

frank_datank_ May 1, 2026 +4

Your ramblings make no sense in relation to this story.

JohnnyD423 May 1, 2026 +1

So if some people have guns, then some people need guns? And if everyone has a gun, then everyone needs a gun. I can see getting the amount down from "everyone" to "some," but "none" might be a stretch.

Child fatally shoots family member in self-defense during incident at Benicia home, police say

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