10-year-old US boy charged with murdering father, says dad disciplined too harshly

Published on August 31, 2009; Published on January 4, 2010
The Associated Press ~ staff The News

Topics :: Albuquerque hospital , New Mexico Children , Youth and Families Department , US , BELEN, New Mexico , Belen

BELEN, New Mexico - Police have charged a 10-year-old-boy with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his father.

Police say the boy called Belen police, who arrived at the family's home Thursday in the southwestern state of New Mexico to find 42-year-old Byron Hilburn shot once in the head.

Police say the boy used his own rifle to shoot his father.

Police say the boy told them he thought his father was disciplining him too harshly and too often.

They believe the boy's 6-year-old sister witnessed the shooting. Authorities say she's with family members.

Hilburn was pronounced dead at an Albuquerque hospital, KOAT-TV reported.

The boy was taken into the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department at an undisclosed location.

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