Murdered Drake Student

**Tornado man** · 05-03-2010, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by dosry5

This is a knee jerk reaction. The kid was of legal age to own a gun. His family is under no obligation to specifically restrict his access.

If his parents knew he was depressed or unstable, yes, they sure should have had that gun locked up.

**Clonegrad07** · 05-03-2010, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Yes - if it's a case of depression, that's too bad. I see that the family's gun is missing. If it wasn't locked up and the kid had easy access to it, the parents should be held responsible.

Easy there hoss... It could have been locked up. Lots of 19 year old kids have access to their family's guns. I am 24 and could walk in and get every one of my dad's guns because we hunt a lot and he and I are the only ones who know how to get them. And I knew how to get them at 16.

**Bipolarcy** · 05-03-2010, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

If his parents knew he was depressed or unstable, yes, they sure should have had that gun locked up.

The email from his parents specifically says he wasn't suicidal, that he had a date later on. Even if he was suicidal, you have no point. If he was a minor child, you might have a point; since he was an adult, capable of making adult decisions, you have no point.

**TarHeelHawk** · 05-03-2010, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Yes - if it's a case of depression, that's too bad. I see that the family's gun is missing. If it wasn't locked up and the kid had easy access to it, the parents should be held responsible.

Ummm.....no.

**Tornado man** · 05-03-2010, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bipolarcy

The email from his parents specifically says he wasn't suicidal, that he had a date later on.

Doesn't look like the DCI is buying much of that email...

DCI: No credible threat to Backstrom; father says son feared for his life | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

**Farnsworth** · 05-03-2010, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by Bipolarcy

The email from his parents specifically says he wasn't suicidal, that he had a date later on. Even if he was suicidal, you have no point. If he was a minor child, you might have a point; since he was an adult, capable of making adult decisions, you have no point.

How would you feel if you were the girl he was suppose to go to the formal with a few days after this happened? Asked you out on a date knowing that he wasn't gonna make it there for this reason.

**kilgore_trout** · 05-03-2010, 07:37 PM

the things people quibble about around here...
i'm looking at you tornado man

**ISUAlum2002** · 05-03-2010, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

If it wasn't locked up and the kid had easy access to it, the parents should be held responsible.

What a ridiculous notion. This guy was not a kid, he was an adult, capable of making adult decisions. He chose the coward's way out and tried to concoct some sort of cockamamie nonsense to make it look like he didn't off himself.

**ISU3000** · 05-03-2010, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

If his parents knew he was depressed or unstable, yes, they sure should have had that gun locked up.

And the kitchen knives, tylenol, ropes, and extension cords, too, right?

**Tre4ISU** · 05-03-2010, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Yes - if it's a case of depression, that's too bad. I see that the family's gun is missing. If it wasn't locked up and the kid had easy access to it, the parents should be held responsible.

Oh, yes, it is always the parents. For crying out loud he was in college. He wasn't 15 years old. At some point this world needs to take some individual accountability. My god, not everything is always someone elses fault. **** happens in the world. Where are you going to draw the line? If he is 30 and takes the gun and kills himself is that still their fault. On your other post-He didn't contact the police because the "threateners" had personal info on his family. He was scared his family would be harmed.

**Tre4ISU** · 05-03-2010, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

If his parents knew he was depressed or unstable, yes, they sure should have had that gun locked up.

When are people going to understand that if someone wants to do harm, they are going to do it with whatever they can get their hands on?

**tim_redd** · 05-03-2010, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by ISU3000

And the kitchen knives, tylenol, ropes, and extension cords, too, right?

Don't forget the water. You can die by drinking too much water.

**mojomo** · 05-03-2010, 08:38 PM

Just a few things First-they haven't found the gun? Kind of odd. Second-not sure I buy into the "recieved threats to his family" idea. If someone is gonna come after your family it GREATLY increases the chance that they will get caught. Third-- I find it hard to believe that someone would tell him to go to this bridge on a fairly well traveled hwy to kill himself, why not just tell him to do it in his dorm room? As far as the missing money, there is hundreds of things that he could have done with the cash-- Blown it all at Prarie Meadows (that alone would make some people suicidal), spent it anyone of numerous things (drugs, hookers ect). I feel bad for his family and friends, but I think the kid did it to himself.

**jtdoyle1** · 05-03-2010, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by mojomo

Just a few things First-they haven't found the gun? Kind of odd.

Apparently he shot himself hanging over the bridge so the gun would have fallen into the river.

**khess83** · 05-03-2010, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

Yes - if it's a case of depression, that's too bad. I see that the family's gun is missing. If it wasn't locked up and the kid had easy access to it, the parents should be held responsible.

You have to be joking right!?!?? If not you are absolutely out of your mind.