8-year old shot father?

It's always shocking to hear of a child killing someone. Often the case is accidental.

But in small-town St. Johns, Arizona, officials are calling a double homicide "premeditated," based on the fact that the two men killed were found in different areas of the home: one at the entrance and one in an upstairs room. One victim was the father of the shooter, an 8-year old boy.

A third grader?

Premeditated?

Speculation already abounds in the news - the first naturally being abuse. Yet the local sheriff's office has no record of calls to the home, and the school counselors have nothing on file indicating any concern about the child and his home life. The boy has nothing negative in his school record.

The family priest told reporters that the father had recently consulted with him for advice on whether the boy should have a gun. The priest did not say what his advice was. One can only hope, in hindsight, that it was, "No."

What parent would even consider giving a gun to an 8-year old? According to the L.A. Times, the father came from a family of "avid hunters," and he taught his son to shoot prairie dogs.

The weapon used was a rifle, powerful kick back and all. The boy shot it, then shot it again, presumably within minutes.

What could possibly have been this kid's reason to aim it at his father and his father's friend/co-worker, who rented a room from the family?

I'm sure details will unfold in the next few weeks. But for now, this tragedy is simply incomprehensible to me.