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Gamer Dies Trying To Save His PSP

ITANI | February 06, 2008 | News | Playstation Portable Misc 
James Felton-Maitland a 17 year old who was on his way home from the library when two robbers spotted him and severely attacked him trying to rob his PlayStation Portable (PSP).

The two teenagers knocked James to the ground and began beating him while trying to take away his PSP which he grasped on with his life.

James then was able to escape and run off, but the two teenagers didn't give up and chased after him still hoping they can take away his PSP. Seconds later James tries to cross a road where he gets slammed down by a truck. This resulted him in severe head trauma.

James died January 5th at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.

One of the teenagers was already violating probation and the other has been arrested 7 times on charges that include burglary. They have both now been charged with second degree felony murder and strong arm robbery.

James's mother said "I looked forward to driving him to graduation one day. Maybe having a family, and grandchildren. And all that was snatched away from me, I would have bought those kids a PSP if they wanted it."
In Miami-Dade County, Florida, police have arrested two teens for fatally attacking a 17-year-old boy over his PlayStation Portable (PSP).
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  • 4 thumbs!
    slumpy monkey | February 06, 2008
    ... wow those cruel cowards.

    I hope they die.
  • 1 thumbs!
    SSJ3 Trunks | February 06, 2008
    *bleep*i N' gang members. They deserve the death penalty. First a young doughter gets killed for the Xbox then a PSP related death? Whats with us?
    This isn't humanity!
    This world is becoming more violent everyday.
    R.I.P, now you can play in piece
  • -2 thumbs!
    Final Blade | February 06, 2008
    Im sorry but why did he do that? Its just a PSP, if She had money to buy those idiots one why not just give it to them. Im sorry for this but the kid is stupid. Your life is worth more than a Stupid PSP.

    Im not denying the two kids are assholes but seriously there's not point in what he just did.
    • 6 thumbs!
      Xenctuary | February 06, 2008
      Just when I think you can't be any more dense finalblade98...



      Your comment is quite clearly devoid of any compassion. Although that most likely stems from natural naivety due to your age (and therefore is far from a reliable mark of your character), it's still important to see this from all perspectives. It's easy to talk about what to do in such a situation but I'd imagine being in one would be a whole lot different. He undoubtedly would have given up the PSP if he knew defending his property would cause his death. I don't think anyone would contest that.

      The mother stated that she would have bought the console for the two thugs to point out, quite heart-wrenchingly, how material possessions will never make up for the loss of her son. You make her out to be some sort of PSP Santa Claus who gives away game consoles as a hobby. This is obviously not true!

      I highly doubt Felton-Maitland wanted to be killed. He was just blindly standing up to crime. Don't get me wrong, life is a whole lot more precious than any amount of money, but the fact that his death involved a PSP is ultimately irrelevant. At the end of the day he didn't deserve to be attacked. You cannot ever be justified in chastising him for that.
      • -1 thumbs!
        Krunal | February 06, 2008
        I fail to see how that is even in the least bit dense. He speaks the truth, nothing is more valuable than your life (except the life of someone you love). And definitely not a PSP.
        • -3 thumbs!
          Zero and X | February 07, 2008
          For once, I have to defend finalblade here, he was a bit rude in how he put it, but hes right, the kid should have just given it up since he knew his life was in danger, there is no denseness in his post.
        • 3 thumbs!
          Gogetenks | February 08, 2008
          The thing is, although it is completely true that the PSP (or anything) is irrelevant in a life or death situation, it's not like he knew that he was going to die. Really, the robbers don't seem to have had any idea, either. If they had pointed a gun in his face, then yes, I would agree that he is an idiot. But this wasn't murder. It was manslaughter. He was hit by a truck in an attempt to run away from these two. They are held responsible, and should be, but neither them nor the victim seemed to have any idea that a truck was coming his way. There would have been no way to know that not giving up the PSP would cost him his life.
    • 6 thumbs!
      tekmosis | February 06, 2008
      I agree with finalblades last statement; a PSP is not worth risking your life over. Just give up the PSP and live another day.
  • 0 thumbs!
    jmac353 | February 06, 2008
    THEY CAN TAKE OUR LIVES! BUT THEY'LL NEVER TAKE OUR PSP's!!!
  • 2 thumbs!
    Incidnia | February 06, 2008
    LOL if someone tried to take my PSP (I would have to get one first though) I would let them have it. No not because I value my life more than my PSP, but because PSP's are worthless and those people deserve the misfortune of owning one. Albiet if they did steal it. From me.
    • 6 thumbs!
      kik36 | February 06, 2008
      Ummm how would you know it's worthless if you don't even own one?
      • 0 thumbs!
        Incidnia | February 06, 2008
        Oh it's just impossible that I've used them before without purchasing one. Jesus use your head.
        • 0 thumbs!
          kik36 | February 06, 2008
          Borrowing one from your buddies and owning one are two different things. I find mine very much worth every cent and more......but then again I travel on business and enjoy sharing my photos, videos, music, and now I can hook up to my PS3 remotely with it sharing even more of those things with my companions.

          Now quit being so damn hostile and answer why you think they're useless with a mature nature. I was asking out of curiosity, not rudeness.
      • 2 thumbs!
        Seeker X | February 06, 2008
        quote
        but because PSP's are worthless and those people deserve the misfortune of owning one
        Yeap, since you know so much about the value of a PSP better than those who actually own it. Do yourself a favor, dipshit, and stop letting your ass do the talking.
  • -1 thumbs!
    ITANI | February 06, 2008
    He died protecting his PSP, that's considered an honourable death. May he rest in peace.
    • 7 thumbs!
      tekmosis | February 06, 2008
      There's no honor in dying over an electronic device. If someone broke into his home to steal his PSP and he was protecting his family; honorable. Dying over a PSP, not so much.
  • -1 thumbs!
    Revenger of Wastelan | February 06, 2008
    Wow those sick bastards couldn't get enough pleasure of beating him up.
  • 3 thumbs!
    MusiKon | February 06, 2008
    What a fool.

    A PSP can easily be replaced, a life can't.
    • -4 thumbs!
      Final Blade | February 06, 2008
      Exactly my point, your life is priceless than a material thing like PSP. No offense ITANI, but how is this an honorably death?!
  • 1 thumbs!
    Play ISDF | February 06, 2008
    The title is somewhat mis-leading, at least in my opinion. It's quite sad, two cowards attempt to get a simple PSP via stealing it, and the gamer protects his PSP and starts getting away from them, only to be hit by a truck. I hope the cowards receive a fair punishment for their awful crime.
  • 5 thumbs!
    tallteen86 | February 06, 2008
    Well, the kid didn't expect to die in the effort >_>

    He got up, and got away (well, still being chased, but you can still get away if you get in a public enough place)....

    He got hit by a car...He was in too much of a rush to see where he was going >_>

    Not worth his life, but worth fighting for...If they started threatening him with knives or a gun or something, then sure, give it up...

    @ Incindia - While to each his (or her) own, just because you don't like it, doesn't mean others shouldn't >_> I like my PSP, I use it regularly for music, and I play Disgaea: Afternoon of darkness on it as well...I don't play on it as much as I used to, on account I got a 360, and then a PS3...but hey, I don't use my DS much either (less than my PSP actually) >_>
    • 7 thumbs!
      Storm | February 06, 2008
      It was a truck, big difference there.

      What a downer...poor kid. Hope justice is served here, and they rot in jail for the rest of their lives.

      One thing: Why is everyone saying what he 'should' have done? We don't know if it was important to him or something, and as tallteen here mentioned, he didn't expect to die. I've been robbed and beat down before, and I did hold on to my CD player (which was what they were after), because that was the only thing that got me through the hell that was high school travel...taking two trains and a bus to and from school wasn't easy, just about two hours worth of travelling, so yeah, I relied on that CD player...but that's not the case here. When someone gets up after a beat down, they'd limp to go somewhere, a lot of things are going on in their heads...such as where they should go, who can they trust to help them...these are things that I thought about...this teen was lost in thought and it's understandable, he was also weak from the attack. He should have looked both ways but he was troubled, both physically and mentally.
      • 0 thumbs!
        tallteen86 | February 07, 2008
        Semantics, he got hit by a moving vehicle, and died....
  • -2 thumbs!
    tidus04 | February 06, 2008
    He should have just let them take the handheld away from him but in the end he should have looked before crossing the road *sigh*.

    I hope they get gang raped in prison if they make it as they should.
  • -1 thumbs!
    Kinetic | February 06, 2008
    He must have had porn on his PSP.
  • 1 thumbs!
    The Primagen | February 07, 2008
    This reminds me of that south park episode..

    HAIL THE HOLY PSP! king of all psps.
  • 2 thumbs!
    Linkin Park Fan | February 07, 2008
    You guys I don't think he really wanted to die over the psp. He probably thought he could make it out alive with some bruses and a psp. I don't think he saw the truck part coming.
    • -4 thumbs!
      Final Blade | February 07, 2008
      Still he should of gave up the PSP regardless.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Evanster 69 | February 07, 2008
    Wow just let them have it. I'm not siding on this one but he should have let it go. But I feel sorry for him because he got hit. R.I.P.
    And I hope thos sick *bleep*s get raped in prison.
  • 3 thumbs!
    neto_360 | February 07, 2008
    I don't think he should have gave up the PSP. I know I wouldn't have. I'm sure he didn't think he would have died over trying to keep his PSP. It is easy to say now that he passed he should have given up the PSP, but if he had lived, people would be saying something different. He should have been more careful, but stuff happens...

    RIP
    • 4 thumbs!
      Gothic Girl | February 07, 2008
      I agree. I would have done the same thing as the boy. He has an expensive item and it was his. Of course he's not going to just give it up and hope the gang doesn't still keep attacking him.
      I'm sure many other people would do the same if someone was trying to take something valuable from you. Of course you're going to fight for it.

      And it wasn't the gang that killed him anyway. It was the truck. So he didn't really die trying to save his PSP - He died trying to get away from a gang.
      • 1 thumbs!
        Gothic Girl | February 07, 2008
        Eep. Double post. Delete this please.
  • 2 thumbs!
    Gamesta100 | February 07, 2008
    I would have done exactly the same thing.Now if they had a knife or a gun I would have gave it up.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Silver Mirror | February 07, 2008
    Why do people keep saying he should have given it up? They had no weapons and obviously weren't very successful at mugging him. No one is going to take something from me without a fight if I was in his situation
    • 2 thumbs!
      tallteen86 | February 07, 2008
      Yep, thats pretty much what I was saying >_>

      If I was in his position, I'd only give it up if they started waving a big knife, or a gun at me...

      I'd be SERIOUSLY tempted to go at them, and beat the living crap out of them...these sorts of people, I doubt they're expecting someone to fight back very hard....I'd kill em, were it not for the fact I could (would) go to jail for that >_>
  • 0 thumbs!
    redneonfish | February 07, 2008
    Hmm. Sad bastards fighting for something so petty. I feel sorry for that kid, if he'ld been quicker, I wonder if them 2 nobs would have been hit by the truck.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Bri | February 07, 2008
    I'm speechless tbh. That some people would actually FIGHT for an electronic device. If that's your logic, well, I wouldn't be surprised if you wound up dead.

    I live near Miami-dade country, rule of thumb is that you shouldn't even CARRY valuable items unless you're in a gated community. This was simply a tragedy, all the wrong factors just added up to a life being lost when it really shouldn't have been.

    Material things can always be replaced. Human lives cannot. The two teens need to be incarcerated for a long, long time in any case. They shouldn't have been on the streets which such criminal records anyway.
    • -3 thumbs!
      Final Blade | February 07, 2008
      My point exactly. GG if thats the case then whats the point of escaping. Sure they could have killed him even if he did gave it to them, but we wouldn't know now. If i knew no matter what i did i was going to die i would rather not fight at all its pointless. Your going to die in the end.
      • 1 thumbs!
        neto_360 | February 08, 2008
        quote finalblade98
        If i knew no matter what i did i was going to die i would rather not fight at all its pointless.
        Here's the thing. You wouldn't know.

        It is natural for people to try to keep their belongings from being taken from them. This kid was not a fool or an idiot for trying to keep his PSP, he was just doing what anyone else would have done in the situation.
        • -4 thumbs!
          Final Blade | February 08, 2008
          He is a fool, at the end of the day. The psp isn't worth getting beat up for. And even though he didn't know he was going to get hit by a truck, he still was running away saving his PSP and himself. I can understand if he was protecting his family or protecting someone's wallet or purse, but not this. The PSP is easily replaceable.

          I would of just gave it to them, i avoid problems.

          It sucks that he got killed but if he would have gave the PSP away, he would still be alive. Like i stated before nothing is worth more than your life, Material things can be replaced. You have one shot at living, why don't you take it while its there.
        • 2 thumbs!
          tallteen86 | February 08, 2008
          Final Blade, it was simply bad luck he got killed...After all, the guys didn't kill him, a vehicle did...He was too busy running away to be careful...That could have happened if he ran away after giving up his PSP, if he was still afraid they'd beat him up despite giving them the PSP....

          The punks didn't have weapons, it isn't irrational to fight in that situation...Like I said, if they had a knife or gun, sure, give it up. BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE WEAPONS!

          You can't be sure they wouldn't have beaten him up anyways, and quite possibly he wasn't convinced they would just let him go without a scratch....
        • 2 thumbs!
          Gothic Girl | February 08, 2008
          Finalblade, stop being so narrow minded.

          What you said doesn't even make sense. So it's okay to fight for a wallet? But it's not okay to fight for a PSP? (which is worth much more than the amount of money that's in most people's wallets).

          Sure, a PSP is easily replacable. But so is a TV, a car, a DVD Player, etc ... and if somebody was trying to steal those items from a person, they're not just going to sit there and allow it to happen, while thinking "Oh well, it can be replaced". No, they paid for it and they're not going to let someone take it. It's common sense for a person to protect what is their's.

          It's also pretty naiive to assume that a gang (that seems to have no qualms about attacking people) is going to leave you alone once they steal your valuble item. No, they'd most likely still keep bashing the shit out of someone even after they've "won" their little prize.

          And you don't know if he would have still lived if he had gave the PSP away. The gang might have still kept bashing him till he was dead... He might have still run away and into the truck anyways. Nobody knows. But I seriously doubt that the kid would have come out of an attack in a "good condition" either way.

          And you call the kid a fool because he wanted to protect something that belonged to him, because he honestly thought he could get away unharmed with his valuble item intact? That's just idiotic!
        • -4 thumbs!
          Final Blade | February 08, 2008
          Tallteen thats exactly my point above.
          quote me
          GG if thats the case then whats the point of escaping. Sure they could have killed him even if he did gave it to them, but we wouldn't know now. If i knew no matter what i did i was going to die i would rather not fight at all its pointless. Your going to die in the end.
          GG Im not narrow minded, i stated before it sucks that he died but at the end of it all he should have just given up the PSP. And if he figured that he was going to get beaten regardless, i would have taken it and hope they leave. I don't risk my life for a stupid PSP. I only do it to Family and friends.
  • -2 thumbs!
    Bri | February 08, 2008
    I'd like to point out something. How did this poor kid know they weren't armed? I've seen fights where the weapon simply comes out of nowhere, even after they "said" they weren't armed at all.

    Also, he was handicapped. I've never fought more than one person at once, I'm not dumb enough to try two, it doubles the chances that they may have weapons and doubles the chances ther may use underhandd techniqes to get you down.

    And who the hell carries a television down the street, or a DVD player? If it's in your house, get insurance for it, that's the best way to protect property within your own house. That way, you aren't carrying ridiculously expensive things with you that you can afford to give up for your health and life.

    Point is, wallets, Cd players, iPods, PSp's, DS's, they can be replaced. If you are in a situation like this, take the smart route and give up the item in question. It doesn't mean they still won't beat the shit out of you, but it's a hell of a lot better than trying to resist and getting killed in the process.
  • 1 thumbs!
    Silver Mirror | February 08, 2008
    So if someone tough guy just comes up to you out of no where and demands you hand over all your money what would you do? There is no reason to give in, its like watching a bunch of people rob my house. Sure if the guys were armed sure I would have given it up in either situation, at least for the time being, but your just going to let hundreds of dollars worth of stuff walk down the street?

    The American were willing to go to war over tax's, yet people here would willing hand stuff over to the first guy which threatens you? At least put up a fight!
  • 0 thumbs!
    UltimaSnake | February 09, 2008
    Assholes. They would've of no doubt killed him anyway.

    I wouldn't let them take my PSP, why the hell should he have gave them what belongs to him, he got away. Although in a panic he ran onto the road and was knocked down, which is very sad but at least he never gave up his pride.

    R.I.P
  • 0 thumbs!
    Bri | February 10, 2008
    "A coward dies a thousand deaths a soldier dies but once"

    is what comes to mind. The coward has 999 more to spare, he lives another day.

    And honestly, I'll leave it at that. If you people would love to risk your lives, go ahead. I'm not commenting further. Simply put, this is a tragic incident, R.I.P. to the victim.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Raijin1999 | February 11, 2008
    Times change; people don't. Laws only slow the process down, they say it keeps it in check, but really. Stop thinking about yourselves and watch each others backs. Why is it people can't understand that; not until they've lost somebody dear to them?

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