In a shocking turn of events, a 10-year-old boy in Texas has confessed to murdering a 32-year-old man, Brandon O’Quinn Rasberry, two years ago. However, due to his age at the time of the crime, the boy will not face charges related to the murder.
Rasberry’s body was discovered in January 2022 at the Lazy J RV Park in Nixon, Texas, with a single gunshot wound to the head. The case went cold until April 12, 2024, when the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Nixon Smiley Independent School District principal about a 10-year-old boy who had threatened another student on a bus. During the investigation, the child made a statement implicating himself in Rasberry’s death.
The boy, who was only 7 years old at the time of the crime, reportedly obtained a pistol from his grandfather’s truck and entered Rasberry’s RV, shooting him once in the head. The child then exited the RV and returned the firearm to the glovebox. The grandfather had pawned the gun, but police were able to retrieve it and link it to the crime.
According to Texas Penal Code 8.07, a child does not have criminal culpability until they reach the age of 10. Therefore, the boy will not face charges related to Rasberry’s death. However, he was charged with terroristic threat for the bus-threatening incident and was placed in detention to await his court date.
The case highlights the complexity of the juvenile justice system and raises questions about how to hold young offenders accountable for their actions. The boy has been transported to a psychiatric hospital in San Antonio for evaluation and treatment.
The Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office has expressed relief that the case has been solved but acknowledges the difficulty of dealing with such a young offender. “This case has been a challenging one, and we are grateful to have finally found the person responsible for Brandon’s death,” said Sheriff Joe Pena. “However, it’s a sobering reminder of the complexities of dealing with juvenile offenders and the need for appropriate resources and support to help them rehabilitate.”
