I shot dad, boy says in 911 call
Saturday November 07 2009
A recording of a six-minute call to emergency services details the moments after a 10-year-old boy allegedly shot his father in the head.
"Just get a doctor over here," the desperate boy begged the operator on the night of August 27.
"Please hurry up. It looks like he's dying."
His father, Bryon Hilburn (42), was on the floor inside, still breathing, when police arrived at the family's home in Belen, just south of Albuquerque. He died later that night at a hospital.
Now, the boy faces a charge of first-degree murder. Charges against the boy were filed on Tuesday.
However, he cannot face adult sanctions because New Mexico law says a child must be 14 or older to be tried as an adult for murder. The boy remains in the custody of his mother. His name is being withheld because of his age.
During the call, when the operator asked the boy if he knew what happened, he told her he shot his father out of anger.
"I was so over my head. I shot him in the back of the head. I got so angry at him," the boy said. "Oh, please hurry."
Mr Hilburn was divorced and had custody of the boy and his two siblings. The state's Children, Youth and Families Department reports that officials received nine calls about the family on a hotline used to report possible child abuse or neglect. Officials substantiated only one claim involving the boy's mother.
- Melanie Dabovich in Albuquerque
Irish Independent
