9-Year-Old Shoots Mother With Rifle, Faces Murder Charges

MICHIGAN — A 9-year-old Michigan boy has been accused of murdering his adoptive mother by shooting her with a rifle, according to authorities. It took place in a small community in southern Michigan called Fawn River Township, near Indiana.

Pauline Randol, 51, was shot to death Monday morning inside their home.

The boy’s sister said the biological mother was a drug addict and the boy has had mental health issues since his 2016 adoption. The boy had just started a new medication for mental health issues, WDIV reported.

The neighbor told media outlets the boy had previously tried to shoot at them with BB guns and often played with bows and arrows.

The child is now facing open murder and felony firearms charges. A preliminary hearing was held Tuesday. The child is in the juvenile justice system, officials said.

The sister told one media outlet that the boy was asking where his mother is and has no idea what happened during the incident.

Anyone younger than 10 years old is considered incompetent, so the child will likely end up with psychological exams as part of the case, WDIV reported.