A six-year-old boy has stabbed his younger brother to death in Joliet, Illinois. The Joliet Police Department (JPD) said the boys’ mother found the younger boy and called emergency services, who tried to save the two-year-old and rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. Officers later confirmed that the six-year-old had been taken into protective custody and will undergo mental health evaluation.
Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English issued a press release saying everyone involved in the horrific incident was a victim. He said everyone associated with it was affected, including responding police officers. “We are all human beings, and this has definitely taken a toll on everyone involved,” he added. JPD Chief Bill Evans stated that the community was reeling, and he struggled to find the words to “express the sorrow and pain we all feel.”
Neighbors expressed shock at the tragedy, saying the children were “adorable.” Giovanni, who lives next door, spoke to reporters and said people are so shaken up that Illinois’s Youth and Family Services showed up and handed out donuts and coffee.
Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and the children’s family members are cooperating with officers. They did not indicate whether any criminal charges would be brought.
Illinois law states that children of any age can face arrest and prosecution. In most cases, juvenile courts will adjudicate on such cases, and minors will only be tried as adults only in extreme instances. When a child is charged with a crime, they are either released to their parents or, depending on the offense, can be detained in a secure facility. While most kids stay in a juvenile facility, suspects under 18 can be held in county jails in some Illinois counties.
To face adult trial, an underage individual must be accused of murder, aggravated battery using a firearm, or sexual assault. Criminal history, mental capacity and understanding, the nature of the offense, and the level of the suspect’s fault are taken into account. Experts say that judges in such cases usually understand that young people are often malleable and lack sound judgment, and this is considered when determinations are made about children’s future.
