Mental health expert weighs in after 11-year-old charged with shooting father and son

A 14-year-old is on life support and his father was critically wounded when a young child shot them both, Memphis police said.

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An 11-year-old is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to Memphis police.

>> MORE: 11-year-old charged with attempted murder via WHBQ-TV

Many questions remain surrounding the shooting: How the 11-year-old got hold of the gun? And what was the motive?

As police continue to press for answers, mental health specialist Brandy Flynn said this tragic event could have been avoided.

“A lot of your well-known killers start off doing some type of killing. Whether it was killing animals or anything like that at a young age, and it was never dealt with.”

A juvenile court judge asked for all media to leave the courtroom Friday while the 11-year-old charged in a double shooting got his first day in court.

“Sad to say it took one or two peoples’ lives,” Flynn said.

There is no word on whether the 11-year-old will be charged as an adult or if the case will remain in juvenile court.

Flynn said it’s a tragedy the child’s behavior is the cause of two people fighting for their lives.

"If he didn't get caught now who's to say he would've done it at 13 or 15," Flynn said.

“With him being caught it’ll prevent him from doing it to someone else.”

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