Rhonda Reid says her world was shattered on Nov. 21.”We’re so shocked, we’re shocked to the core,” Reid told WISN 12 News’ Hillary Mintz in an exclusive interview Monday. Prosecutors say a 10-year-old boy shot and killed his mother, Quiana Mann, inside their home near 87th and Hemlock streets. Prosecutors said the boy was upset that his mother woke him up early and also refused to buy him a virtual reality headset from Amazon. Mann’s family wants to set the record straight, telling WISN 12 News that the fourth-grader, who is now being charged as an adult, was actively addressing his behavioral issues.” I think the biggest misconception is that was on an Oculus VR headset. It had been recommended by his treatment providers that cell phones and electronic devices be restricted because of the violent games he played. So she was following his treatment plan to the letter when she decided to take his electronic devices. And that’s what upset him,” Reid said. The boy is currently being held at the juvenile detention center. Reid says she talks to her grandson every day. “He calls every day and we have talks. He hasn’t expressed any remorse to me,” Reid said. Some advocacy groups have expressed outrage that the young man is being charged as an adult, which is required by state law in a crime like this.”Do you think he should be charged as an adult?” Mintz asked. “I feel like I understand why he was charged as an adult. The things he admitted to me, the things he admitted to law enforcement, his competency levels. So there are behavioral issues, but there’s nothing in the story his to show that he’s wrong with his understanding,” Reid said. Lueritha Mann said she feels like she has lost two children, her daughter and grandson. “Some days are better than others,” Mann said. “Did you ever think that your nephew, grandson, would be capable of such a thing?” Mintz asked the boy’s aunt and grandmother: “I knew he was up to something, but not this tough,” Mann said. Mann said her 44-year-old daughter was a mother of four and was set to graduate with an MBA in May “She loved being a mother,” Mann said of her daughter. The family said one of the hardest parts of being in the national spotlight with the viral story was having to read the comments and criticism online. “It was the hardest thing to see her parenting put on trial as if she had done something wrong,” Reid said. Right now, they say being locked up is the safest place for him.” We just don’t know. What he’s like, what his mental state is, and what he’s capable of. So to me, as it stands, this is the best place for him,” Reid said. The boy is scheduled to return to court in January for his preliminary hearing.
Rhonda Reid says her world came crashing down on November 21.
“We’re very shocked, shocked to the core,” Reid told WISN 12 News’ Hillary Mintz in an exclusive interview Monday.
Prosecutors say a 10-year-old boy shot and killed his mother, Quiana Mann, inside their home near 87th and Hemlock streets.
Prosecutors said the boy was upset that his mother woke him up early and also refused to buy him a virtual reality headset from Amazon.
Mann’s family wants to set the record straight, telling WISN 12 News that the fourth-grader, who is now charged as an adult, was actively dealing with his behavioral problems.
“I think the biggest misconception is that it was over an Oculus VR headset. It was recommended by his treatment providers that cell phones, electronic devices be restricted because of the violent games he played. So she was following up on word of word his treatment plan. when she decided to take his electronics. And that’s what upset her,” Reid said.
The boy is currently being held in a juvenile detention center. Reid says she talks to her grandson every day.
“He calls every day and we have talks. He hasn’t expressed any remorse to me,” Reid said.
Some advocacy groups have expressed outrage that the young man is being charged as an adult, which is required by state law for such a crime.
“Do you think he should be charged as an adult?” Mintz asked.
“I feel like I understand why he was charged as an adult. The things he admitted to me, the things he admitted to law enforcement, his competency levels. So there are behavioral issues, but there’s nothing in the history of him to prove him wrong with his understanding,” Reid said.
Lueritha Mann said she feels like she has lost two children, her daughter and grandson.
“Some days are better than others,” Mann said.
“Did you ever think that your grandson, your grandson, would be capable of such a thing?” Mintz asked the boy’s aunt and grandmother.
“I knew he was capable of something, but not that tough,” Mann said.
Mann said her 44-year-old daughter was a mother of four and was set to graduate with an MBA in May.
“She loved being a mom,” Mann said of her daughter.
The family said one of the hardest parts of stepping into the national spotlight with the viral story was having to read the comments and criticism online.
“It was the hardest thing to see her parenting put on trial as if she had done something wrong,” Reid said.
For now, they say being locked up is the safest place for him.
“We just don’t know what his mental state is and what he’s capable of doing. So to me, as it stands, this is the best place for him,” Reid said.
The boy is scheduled to return to court in January for his preliminary hearing.
