Last week, we bought you the whimsical story of young Latarian Milton, a 7-year old South Florida kid who had landed himself in deep trouble for stealing his Grandma's SUV and crashing it at a Costco store. Since this story broke nationally, it's become an internet sensation of sorts, with all sorts of half-assed Youtube mash-ups and remixes. Lost in the shuffle was the fact that this kid was clearly crying out for attention in the video.
All the news accounts were focused on the laughable notion that a kid who couldn't see over the steering wheel stole a car and drove for miles through rush hour traffic. Everyone gawked and laughed. Nobody gave a shit about the kid.
Maybe they will after this.[1]
A 7-year-old boy who took his grandmother's car on a joyride last month has been taken for a mental health evaluation after he allegedly beat her up inside a South Florida Wal-Mart, WPBF News 25 reported.And here's the fresh video, courtesy of YouTube.
Latarian Milton's grandmother, Vikkita Stratford, told WPBF that the 7-year-old took his mischievous activities to a new level Monday when she said he beat her up inside a Lake Park Wal-Mart.
According to Stratford, the problem began when Milton asked his grandmother for some chicken wings. When she refused, Milton walked over over to the counter and ordered them anyway.
Stratford said that when she confronted him about it, Milton just snapped.
"He just started hitting me -- just started hitting me in front of the whole Wal-Mart. Every one in there was upset," Stratford said.
Stratford told WPBF that Milton hit her stomach, legs and "wherever he could reach me."
Riviera Beach police picked up Milton from his home and took him to an area hospital for a mental health evaluation Monday afternoon, WPBF reported. The 7-year-old can be held for up to 72 hours while he is evaluated by mental health officials.
Stratford said that she believes Milton's problems are due to a bad atmosphere with his parents.
"I know what causes the behavior, cause all he's ever seen was his parents do physical and abusive and verbal things, and I don't want him to continue in this direction so I'm doing the best I can to get him the help," she told WPBF.
Stratford said that she is worried about what will happen once the 7-year-old is released from his evaluation. She also told WPBF that she is making sure that Milton won't have access to her rental car while her SUV is being repaired.
"When I first got the rental he said, 'Oh, you know, let me take this for a spin," Stratford said. "So now I just sleep with the keys. I lock them up."
Okay, I know I am undermining my own point when I say this, but how funny is it that this kid beat his grandma up over some chicken wings? WTH!?!?
Real talk though, I know the whole Take The AverageBro Challenge thing is getting old, but seriously, Ray Charles can see the problem in this whole situation. The parents don't give the kid the best environment or influences. Grandma becomes mother by default, but damnit, she's battling Cancer, already raised her kids, and wants to live too. If you don't believe me, just watch the original Latarian video, and tell me what you see around the 1:04 mark.
Man, Grandma was sittin' on chrome! Them had to be 28's, 26's at least.
Anyways, I'm not sayin' having a mentor would solve all the kid's problems. He's clearly been dealt a bad hand from the get-go. But who knows? The right football coach, tutor, or church youth ministry might be able to tap into some of the kid's creativity, while helping him deal with some of the rage that undoubtedly manifests itself in a kidney punch to his own Nana over some cold-assed Walmart hotwings. I'm just sayin'.
What's evident to me is the kid isn't mentally ill. He just needs a attention.
He ain't got A.D.D. He needs a D.A.D.
The sad thing is, there's millions of other Latarian Miltons out there who just haven't stolen a car.
Yet.
Question: Do you think Latarian has mental issues or is this whole thing a misplaced plea for attention he's not getting from his own parents?
Woman Says Joyriding Grandson, 7, Beat Her Up (bonus with extra video) [WPBF]
[1] Thanks to TiffInHouston for sending this along.
