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Man kills baby over a videogame, pleads guilty photo

A man has pleaded guilty to killing an 18-day-old baby so that he could finish his videogame in peace. On October 26, 2007, Rene Edward Barrios was trusted to look after his girlfriend's newborn baby while it was sleeping. Leaving it in the next room, Barrios was playing an unspecified game when the baby started to cry. 

Enraged by the noise, the man went into the next room, where he violently shook the child and hit it in the head. With the baby subdued, Barrios then went to finish his videogame for the next ten minutes, coming back to check on the child only to find it blue and unconscious. The baby died later in hospital and Barrios was arrested there and then. He has officially been found guilty of manslaughter and faces between 10.5 and 21 years of prison. 

Having lived with far younger siblings, one can sympathize with the agony of having a child's screaming ruin your gaming. But Jesus Christ on a ferris wheel, it's depressing to think that people are capable of this.

[Thanks, Pew]

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92 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Debeo Laurus's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:21
Debeo Laurus
*Sheds a tear*

"Having lived with far younger siblings, one can sympathize with the agony of having a child's screaming ruin your gaming. But Jesus Christ on a ferris wheel, it's depressing to think that people are capable of this."

I have three brothers, and I know the annoyances of having somebody interrupt you during playing. I know that killing the person or thing that bothers you is not the answer. How come other "Adults" can't figure this out? I feel you Jim, this sad sad world is coming to an unethical time.
Barcode's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:21
Barcode
There should be a section on this site dedicated to face palm stories. All ranging from totally sad stories to outrageously funny ones.

This man, deserves to die.
JTHomeslice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:24
JTHomeslice
God almighty. That's fucked up. Why isn't he being killed? Death penalty please.
Alexradl's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:29
Alexradl
You deserve to die, Barrios.
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:32
Phoenix Gamma
http://www.eegra.com/pages/show/id/110/

Posting this every time I see a violent gamer story, because I'm bitter.
Dr Dtoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:36
Dr Dtoid
"Sheds a tear"

10.5-12 years, no life?I hope this man gets the death penalty like JTHomeslice said. If he doesn't die, he should be raped every night.I get annoyed when my brother talks to me when I'm on live, but Jesus Christ I don't kill him. Its these kind of people who shouldn't be allowed near games and give games bad names. Now everyone here can agree that Fox is going to do a report on this.
Kasmodiah's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:37
Kasmodiah
Sweet Jesus and Mary Chain! Just you folks wait until Fox gets the hold of this.

BTW, 12 years for killing a child? My capital punishment sensation is tingling abnormally.
DoomAgent's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:40
DoomAgent
insanity
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 09:44
Jim Sterling
Gamma:

Eegra can be funny, but I sometimes wonder how they can find oxygen with that horse they ride being so goddamn high.
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 10:09
Phoenix Gamma
Eh. I don't care about high horses or what have you, since everyone on the internet has the e-peen the size of the Seattle Space Needle. But I agree with them when they say that it's really silly when people post these things, just because they're not really related to videogames at all save for "because of a videogame" at the very end.

It's like, you've got mention of Gears of War 2 not coming to PC, Gamestop cancelling Ghostbusters preorders, HOLD ON MAN KILLS BABY OVER A VIDYAGAME, Dissidia footage. As the old song goes, "one of these things is not like the other..."

I mean, I can deal with it like a good little boy, but it still irks me when game sites report this :U
mabman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 10:13
mabman
more importantly, what game was it?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 10:15
Jim Sterling
Well, these things interest me and it interests some of the readers. I really don't see how it should actively annoy anybody when there's a shitload of other stories to read.
magnetite's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 10:16
magnetite
Another blow for gaming thanks to a violent psychotic. The trouble the press and knee-jerk politicians, unlike the medical community, don't acknowledge the fact that these people could be just as easily pushed over the edge into insanity and murder by a passer-by whistling a tune they hate, or a bad night for their favourite sporting team or even just the voices inside their deranged heads. Still, no to a death penalty, as that would obviate the possibility of repentance or remorse from a perpetrator, who may even be too addled to know the difference between right and wrong.
Roth's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 10:29
Roth
Pathetic.

He was probably playing Wii Sports, no less.
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 10:59
Cartman
For fucks sake, its assholes like this who are going to be responsible for the eventual BAN of gaming altogether.

And its not a matter of if, its simply when it happens.
orao's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 11:04
orao
Really now, none of us knows the baby, the mother, or any of the people involved, and I hate it when people pretend that they give a shit about some murder here or there. Stop satisfying your moral sensibilities and go play some vieo games.
MisterMingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 11:34
MisterMingo
@JTHomeslice: Perhaps you've heard the phrase "An eye for an eye and the world goes blind"? If you kill someone for killing, in my opinion, you're no better than they are from a moral standpoint. You are craving for blood to be spilled.

Plus I don't believe in Heaven or Hell and would much rather die than spend life, or even 12 years in prison. He might be the same way, for all you know. And judging by the fact he murdered a baby over a game, I doubt he believes in Hell. Would you really want to give him his way?

Anyway, this guy really makes me sick to my stomach. Murdering a defenseless baby just so he can find a save point or something trivial like that. This is something an animal does, not a human being. Let this monster rot in prison.
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:00
The-Excel
$5 says it was an online game.
Ninja In Distress's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:08
Ninja In Distress
I hope this guy dies in a fire on his way to jail or something. If you kill a defenseless BABY, you deserve a painful death.
glandseck's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:12
glandseck
The-Excel totally called it. Online game.
Zeno's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:13
Zeno
I can't find on any of these things what game it was.

That's the real issue at hand here.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:15
DaedHead8
I really wish they would start reporting what game was being played during crimes like this. That way if it's something like Kane and Lynch or Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, then we will all have one more reason to avoid it.
Ninja In Distress's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:16
Ninja In Distress
I remember when this story was published back in '07. He was playing Madden at the time, I forget which version.

Madden = SERIOUS BUSINESS
magnetite's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:25
magnetite
Really orao, if we feel no empathy for the victim, or even the killer (at leasts at an extreme remove), then we are no better than the empty simulacra that we control on the screen, and likely to be further down the road toward becoming this vile person than not. Still, your point about just playing our games is at least semi-valid - we should enjoy what we have while we have it.
retrocalypse's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:40
retrocalypse
This guy would have eventually done something to bring harm to the child, video game or not.

Gaming isn't going anywhere. We still have books, movies, music, and comic books. Video games are just the most recent target for the perpetual arsenal of the conerned, ignorant, and self-righteous. Give it time, they'll find something else to attack.
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 12:48
Cartman
@ Retro

Maybe they'll run out of things to attack and start attacking each other.

Thats when we'll strike.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:24
Sharpless
@Jim
I don't really think Eegra's out-of-line at all. The games industry, and the games blogging world, need criticism. And who's a better critic than the court jester?

I also like how the article ends with "Thanks, Pew," almost as though he's somehow responsible.
RaidenMGS2's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:35
RaidenMGS2
It sickens me to even think that a person could do something that vile ( he was probably playing bioshock or jerico ) >:( . I think life sentence in prison or at least 80 years >:( >:( >:(
CypherVR's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:43
CypherVR
i have no sympathy for the asshole, enjoy your 20-some years of raep.
vrplumber's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:46
vrplumber
This brainless prick should be artificially impregnated with a hippo fetus and then be forced to carry it to term. If the birth doesn't kill him, he should be fed to the pigs.
humanbattery's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:46
humanbattery
Is it safe to assume it wasn't this game?


Seriously though, this is quite messed up.
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:46
Volomon
Sadly its not nearly as hard as everyone thinks. Try being stuck with a newborn day in and day out while working. Getting a few hours of sleep. Its enough to test anyone. Especially when no family support. That's specifically the reason why there are a lot of take home a nurse programs. To which they stop by and teach you how to deal with those types of issues.

It takes a minimum of two people to handle a child(newborn). Even then someone else should come in to check on them. Cause all they do is whine, scream, shit, and rip up nipples. Then you have to deal with the wife moaning.

Anyone who hasn't had to watch a newborn and work. Especially 16 hour shifts. Shouldn't comment at all.
Salty Soil's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 13:49
Salty Soil
This guy doesn't sound as if he would be safe around children regardless if he was playing video games or preoccupied with anything else. It's disgusting how he reacted :(
fetusmilk's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 14:39
fetusmilk
there is no excuse for what this guy did. i noticed it said it was his girl friends baby.was it not his as well?

another fatherless child (no longer)being raised by a guy who doesnt care about the child because "its not his".

he deserves the death penalty. or maybe he should be shaken to death by a paint can mixer.
WhiteX's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 15:36
WhiteX
Well, Volomon, i do have a kid and work, also i do play games and never killed my kid, skipped qork or stopped gaming, i am a machine.

That dude is sick and will be raped in prision and i would never entrust my kid to Volomon.
Ninja In Distress's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 15:42
Ninja In Distress
LOL @ Volomon "Hey man, taking care of kids is hard work! I can totally understand where he is coming from. Kill that little snot; you guys have no idea how hard it is sometimes!"

Get that bullshit out of here, man.
Dr Dtoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 16:10
Dr Dtoid
I don't care how annoying the kid is, you don't kill him.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 16:23
TrailerParkJesus
geezus
Bioautographical's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 16:54
Bioautographical
@ Volomon: Sadly its not nearly as hard as everyone thinks. Try being stuck with a newborn day in and day out while working. Getting a few hours of sleep. Its enough to test anyone. Especially when no family support. That's specifically the reason why there are a lot of take home a nurse programs. To which they stop by and teach you how to deal with those types of issues.

Yeah, no. If anyone was going to have "cause" to kill the kid, it'd have been the mother, suffering from post-partum depression/psychosis. As horrible as it'd have still been, at least there would have been the hormonal chaos to begin explaining why someone would do such a thing.

THIS guy is a fucking douchewad, no two ways about it. If you're THAT busy, then the guy should've been sleeping, not playing videogames. I agree that this probably would've been the same scenario if he'd been reading a book or watching a movie - he simply didn't want to be interrupted and abused the child into submission until all was quiet again. Do I think he MEANT to kill the child? No. But there was definitely an ill intention at work, or at least a selfish one.

I hope he dies in prison.
Pseudothink's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 17:08
Pseudothink
Wow, mention the words "he killed a baby" and suddenly everyone becomes a self-righteous zealot out for blood. I think his punishment should fit the nature of the crime. It is terribly easy to accidentally injure or even kill a baby by shaking it. He may have just had a horrible day and been a little out of his head, and acted on impulse without thought or judgement. If he made a horrible mistake and is sincerely apologetic, of course he should still be punished, but joining the mob mentality in screaming for his death is just absurd. I'm not religious, but the phrase "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" comes to mind. All you people who are hoping he "gets raped" or "dies" in prison, without knowing the details of the case, you disgust me almost as much as the crime does.
icarus2oo2's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 17:22
icarus2oo2
/e sets up stall

get your lynchmob essentials here!

pitchforks & flaming torches going cheap while stocks last
buy 10 get 1 free

awaits gleeful anti-videogame nazi's
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 17:32
Atlas
He was playing Runescape!
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 18:27
michiyoyoshiku
I bet he was a PS3 Owner.

PS3 Owners are the lowest of the low.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 18:52
Sharpless
@Volomon
Are you trying to excuse the fact that this man killed his infant child? There's really no response I can possibly make to that. All I'll say is, there is no excuse for it, no matter how much you may think there is. End of story. If you have kids, I feel sorry for them.

@Atlas
Runescape? I think that earns him an extra level of hell, or something.
Sinow Wolf's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 20:09
Sinow Wolf
He pleaded guilty so he obviously didn't mean to do it. I hope he manages to get over it and makes the most of his life from this point onward.

There's no point wasting two lives over a mistake while pissed off. I can see why you people are angry but this guy is obviously upset with what he's done and he's the person who has to live with this for the rest of his life. The majority of you guys will have totally forgotten about this in a couple of months, he'll have to live with the fact he killed a newborn child by accident.
Bioautographical's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 20:20
Bioautographical
I'm not religious, but the phrase "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" comes to mind.

Better yet, let's make that "Let he who has never shaken and struck something tiny and defenseless cast the first stone" and you'll have yourself a deal.

*raises hand*
Sinow Wolf's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 20:29
Sinow Wolf
I bet you've killed insects.
Mista Smegheneghan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 20:52
Mista Smegheneghan
oh good grief...

i'm not sure if not specifying the game he was playing is defending what he was playing or condemning video games as a whole. and like others said, he plead guilty so he didn't mean to do it. but how could he think that the general way to get something quiet is to beat it up till it's quiet? that's not even worthy of the facepalm.jpg
Bioautographical's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 20:52
Bioautographical
HAHAHAHAHAHA.

HAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Oh yes. The "I'm sure you've killed a housefly" defense. If I ever plan on murdering anyone, I'll be sure to discuss that one with my attorney.

HAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Ninjajuice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/30/2008 20:54
Ninjajuice
One decade. What the fuck!?!?
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