A 14-year-old Phoenix, Arizona, boy was arrested by sheriff's deputies on Tuesday after threatening to "go on a killing spree" then kill himself at Wigwam Creek Middle School.
Reuters reports that the boy made the threat in the comments section of the YouTube video for Foster the People's song "Pumped up Kicks."
The boy was reportedly taken into custody without incident at his home.
The song, which has reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, is about a troubled youth, with homicidal** thoughts. And the chorus goes, "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet."
The boy wrote: "This song makes me think of doing this to people at school. Tomorrow, 9/27/11 I will go on a KILLING SPREE unless someone contacts arizonas police officials i don't want to do this and after im done i will kill myself."
He then posted his home address and the name of the school adding "PPL WILL DIE!!" (Found the wording of the post via New York Daily News).
In words that might come back to haunt him, Foster the People frontman Mark Foster told Rolling Stone in a 2010 interview that, while writing the song, "I was trying to get inside the head of an isolated, psychotic kid."
I guess he did.
** Thank you Brendan for pointing out that I had spelled "homicidal" "homocidal."
Total and complete CRAP. The writer of this article should take a couple of reality check courses. Killers are BORN they are NOT made, by songs or anything else that trite. This sprog had the killer predisposition way before this particular song was ever released. I am sick to death of people blaming everyone and everything else around them, time to take personal responsibility. A predisposition is just that, usually genetic not learned behaviour, if anyone other that this sprog should take some responsibility it should be the parents, you bred him, you fed him and you were probably too damn busy with your own perception of your life to wake up and see that YOUR offspring is mental.
He would have used another excuse if this song did not exist, remember Charles Manson using the Beatles Helter Skelter song as one excuse in ordering the mass murderers
I was just having this conversation with my younger son on how I liked the tune of this song but how I disagreed with the lyrics and was saying how some kid could use this song as a cataylst to go and do what it says! I think these types of lyrics are much worse than swear words in a song, this talks about trying to kill someone!
This is very sad. This young CHILD was obviously crying out for help. Let's spend more time focusing on kids-in-crisis getting what they need, & less time caring if he was relating to a song or not.
I am a mother of three. I asked my oldest son (9) what this song was about and he said a boy with problems who wants to kill people. I then asked him what the song made him think about.He replied it made me feel bad for the boy he needs help. Parents do your job and talk to your kids.
LMFAO WOW I think I should stick to listening to music of the 80's cause I have always loved this song,awesome beat to it...and to think I never ever knew what it was about till reading this story...just goes to show me I need to read lyrics as well as listening to them....now in saying that I still like the song/beat,and no it doesnt make a person what to go on a killing spree...maybe this teen was just giving a cry for help,I mean why else would he post his info!!
Hey, thanks for promoting this a-hole song with a link! Both the kid AND the writer are responsible for the "thoughts". Wish homicidal would become suicidal in all cases. As far as the poor sensitive musician who's channelling (shucks, not promoting) violence ... you know what you put out there gives imbalanced peeps somewhere to lay the blame, and you're just looking for attention, anyway. Idiot.
Judging by the music I listened to while I was growing up, I should be a serial killer by now. I guess I lucked out by having a mother who taught me the difference between right and wrong. Where are this kid's parents and why are they not helping him through his problems? And, more importantly, why aren't people teaching their children the repercussions of bullying because I'd be willing to bet that the confusion and resentment he has towards others is probably related to that.
Anything that brings out a need for help from an in balanced indavidual is good in my book.I like the song just because it has a great beat to it. the lyrics kinda strange given the beat. But hey it works for me.
It isn't the song that's the problem. It's the boy who's the problem. He has dark thoughts that were going around in his head long before he ever heard the song. The kid undoubtedly has some serious issues. Hopefully the professionals can reach him, and help him in such a way. That he'll never become a killer.
Killers aren't born, they are molded by experiences. Some individuals are however born with cognitive or emotional limitations that make them more vulnerable under certain circumstances to becoming homicidal. This kid was looking for help and posed a risk. He will get the help he has probably needed for some time. Music, movies, video games etc. don't cause people to kill. Some simpletons will oversimplify the complex factors that impact on an individual who has killed and try to blame it on one form of media or another but those claims don't hold any water. They usually reference correlations between killing and x,y or z. Remember that they all drank milk as well and I doubt somehow that that is the trigger for murder. Anyways, great catchy little song with a surprisingly soft video.
Some of these songs are so terrible...its a wonder anyone remains sane after having these pumped over the air waves and fed to our children. STOP the madness!
People can be homicidal for MANY reasons. And all it takes for someone to become homicidal is to be anti-social. Tendencies and behavioral changes that lead people to be like this, start at a very young age and that's even if they are not born with it. Matter of fact they start developing FAR younger than this kid.
Once more, music, and other media have been blamed for things like this for years. And you know what? I listen to music FAR darker than this on a very regular basis -- I even sing them in the shower. And by this (FLAWED) logic, I should be out of my bloody mind.
This is a great tune that gets in your head and has a very benign sound to it - not to mention some good YouTube videos showing it as such - benign.
In fact, many people commented they didn't realize what the lyrics were actually about; one person commented that they thought the words were, ... "can't outrun my MOTHER ..." ... the word 'mother' is actually 'bullet' for those who are not aware.
I love the melody of this song and often listen but luckily I'm a sane 50+. But sadly I'm not surprised I'm reading this. It only takes one screwed up kid to mess up a lot of lives because they think they can live the song or become the 'songwriter' ... and I have no idea how to prevent this stuff happening other than censorship - which we know will not happen. More dead people soon I guess.
Now, you reported homo-cidal. Did you mean homi-cidal, or was this a hate crime aimed at gay people?
Posted by: brendan | 09/30/2011 at 03:50 PM
Songs don't kill people. People kill people.
Posted by: Tamara | 09/30/2011 at 03:52 PM
Yea right. Like this kid didn't have dark thoughts before hearing this song.
Posted by: Becks | 09/30/2011 at 03:54 PM
Kid was f'd up before he heard the son.
Posted by: louise | 09/30/2011 at 03:57 PM
songs dont make people want 2 go killing people. The person that do think that have mental problems and then's help
Posted by: stephen | 09/30/2011 at 04:01 PM
needs help
Posted by: stephen | 09/30/2011 at 04:02 PM
Total and complete CRAP. The writer of this article should take a couple of reality check courses. Killers are BORN they are NOT made, by songs or anything else that trite. This sprog had the killer predisposition way before this particular song was ever released. I am sick to death of people blaming everyone and everything else around them, time to take personal responsibility. A predisposition is just that, usually genetic not learned behaviour, if anyone other that this sprog should take some responsibility it should be the parents, you bred him, you fed him and you were probably too damn busy with your own perception of your life to wake up and see that YOUR offspring is mental.
Posted by: OMG | 09/30/2011 at 04:08 PM
He would have used another excuse if this song did not exist, remember Charles Manson using the Beatles Helter Skelter song as one excuse in ordering the mass murderers
Posted by: s | 09/30/2011 at 04:41 PM
Songs don't make people kill, people kill! Something wrong with his head.
Posted by: George | 09/30/2011 at 04:48 PM
I was just having this conversation with my younger son on how I liked the tune of this song but how I disagreed with the lyrics and was saying how some kid could use this song as a cataylst to go and do what it says! I think these types of lyrics are much worse than swear words in a song, this talks about trying to kill someone!
Posted by: Debbie | 09/30/2011 at 05:10 PM
This is very sad. This young CHILD was obviously crying out for help. Let's spend more time focusing on kids-in-crisis getting what they need, & less time caring if he was relating to a song or not.
Posted by: Hoping for a better future for all. | 09/30/2011 at 05:28 PM
I am a mother of three. I asked my oldest son (9) what this song was about and he said a boy with problems who wants to kill people. I then asked him what the song made him think about.He replied it made me feel bad for the boy he needs help. Parents do your job and talk to your kids.
Posted by: stephenie | 09/30/2011 at 05:39 PM
If this song inspired him to say something like that. I hope he never hears Marylin Manson.
Posted by: steve | 09/30/2011 at 05:43 PM
a dog who barks won't bite
Posted by: watcher | 09/30/2011 at 06:04 PM
LMFAO WOW I think I should stick to listening to music of the 80's cause I have always loved this song,awesome beat to it...and to think I never ever knew what it was about till reading this story...just goes to show me I need to read lyrics as well as listening to them....now in saying that I still like the song/beat,and no it doesnt make a person what to go on a killing spree...maybe this teen was just giving a cry for help,I mean why else would he post his info!!
Posted by: Loretta | 09/30/2011 at 06:12 PM
im not surprised. this song is written about a school shooting
Posted by: TheGuyWhoknowsEverything | 09/30/2011 at 06:25 PM
Hey, thanks for promoting this a-hole song with a link! Both the kid AND the writer are responsible for the "thoughts". Wish homicidal would become suicidal in all cases. As far as the poor sensitive musician who's channelling (shucks, not promoting) violence ... you know what you put out there gives imbalanced peeps somewhere to lay the blame, and you're just looking for attention, anyway. Idiot.
Posted by: bothsuck | 09/30/2011 at 06:37 PM
Judging by the music I listened to while I was growing up, I should be a serial killer by now. I guess I lucked out by having a mother who taught me the difference between right and wrong. Where are this kid's parents and why are they not helping him through his problems? And, more importantly, why aren't people teaching their children the repercussions of bullying because I'd be willing to bet that the confusion and resentment he has towards others is probably related to that.
Posted by: Maria | 09/30/2011 at 06:47 PM
Anything that brings out a need for help from an in balanced indavidual is good in my book.I like the song just because it has a great beat to it. the lyrics kinda strange given the beat. But hey it works for me.
Posted by: Jim. | 09/30/2011 at 07:25 PM
It isn't the song that's the problem. It's the boy who's the problem. He has dark thoughts that were going around in his head long before he ever heard the song. The kid undoubtedly has some serious issues. Hopefully the professionals can reach him, and help him in such a way. That he'll never become a killer.
Posted by: B. C. Cowboy | 09/30/2011 at 07:33 PM
Maria, I think you hit the nail on the head exactly.
Posted by: Rob | 09/30/2011 at 08:49 PM
Killers aren't born, they are molded by experiences. Some individuals are however born with cognitive or emotional limitations that make them more vulnerable under certain circumstances to becoming homicidal. This kid was looking for help and posed a risk. He will get the help he has probably needed for some time. Music, movies, video games etc. don't cause people to kill. Some simpletons will oversimplify the complex factors that impact on an individual who has killed and try to blame it on one form of media or another but those claims don't hold any water. They usually reference correlations between killing and x,y or z. Remember that they all drank milk as well and I doubt somehow that that is the trigger for murder. Anyways, great catchy little song with a surprisingly soft video.
Posted by: Dave | 09/30/2011 at 09:20 PM
Some of these songs are so terrible...its a wonder anyone remains sane after having these pumped over the air waves and fed to our children. STOP the madness!
Posted by: Luci Fur | 09/30/2011 at 09:29 PM
People can be homicidal for MANY reasons. And all it takes for someone to become homicidal is to be anti-social. Tendencies and behavioral changes that lead people to be like this, start at a very young age and that's even if they are not born with it. Matter of fact they start developing FAR younger than this kid.
Once more, music, and other media have been blamed for things like this for years. And you know what? I listen to music FAR darker than this on a very regular basis -- I even sing them in the shower. And by this (FLAWED) logic, I should be out of my bloody mind.
Posted by: Chris | 09/30/2011 at 10:26 PM
This is a great tune that gets in your head and has a very benign sound to it - not to mention some good YouTube videos showing it as such - benign.
In fact, many people commented they didn't realize what the lyrics were actually about; one person commented that they thought the words were, ... "can't outrun my MOTHER ..." ... the word 'mother' is actually 'bullet' for those who are not aware.
I love the melody of this song and often listen but luckily I'm a sane 50+. But sadly I'm not surprised I'm reading this. It only takes one screwed up kid to mess up a lot of lives because they think they can live the song or become the 'songwriter' ... and I have no idea how to prevent this stuff happening other than censorship - which we know will not happen. More dead people soon I guess.
Posted by: s | 09/30/2011 at 10:54 PM