8-year-old shoots dead father in US

Flagstaff, Arizona: An 8-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the shooting of his father and another man in a rural community in eastern Arizona, authorities said on Friday.

The boy was charged with two counts of premeditated murder in the death of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, and 39-year-old Timothy Romans, St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick said.

Police arrived at the home within minutes of the shooting on Wednesday, Melnick said. They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room.

The boy, who prosecutors say had never been in trouble before, initially denied involvement in the shooting but later confessed, Melnick said.

Police have not said what they think the boy's motive was.

Defence attorney Benjamin Brewer argued on Friday that police overreached in questioning the boy without representation from a parent or attorney and did not advise him of his rights.