An 8-year-old boy is charged with the premeditated murder of his 29-year-old father, Vincent Romero, and 39-year-old Timothy Romans. An Arizona judge said there was sufficient evidence that the boy used a .22-caliber rifle to fatally shoot his father and Romans, who was renting a room in their house. The family priest said the father allegedly taught his son how to use a gun for hunting.

The unidentified minor reportedly had no disciplinary record at school and no one suspected he was having any problems at home. Members of the St. Johns community which is northeast of Phoenix and has a population of 4,000, were shocked to hear the tragic news.

The boy went to a neighbor's house and told them he "believed that his father was dead" and authorities quickly responded to the scene. After questioning by police, without representation or a parent/guardian present, the boy confessed.

According to the FBI, it is rare that a child under 11 years old would commit murder. There were only three reported cases of a minor younger than 11 years old committing murder each year in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Arizona law allows charges to be filed against anyone eight or older.

The child is currently being held in a juvenile detention facility and will undergo psychological evaluation. Police say they are looking into the possibility that the child was abused. Defense attorney, Benjamin Brewer, said the boy is "trying to be tough, but he's scared."