As League of Legends player awaits trial for off-color comments, his mother speaks

Anger and frustration are certainly emotions that all gamers have felt after an intense play session. Not many of us would make the kind of joke Justin Carter did after a League of Legends match, but no one could have expected the response that followed.

Carter, a 19 year old--though 18 at the time--from New Braunfels, Texas, was engaged in an argument on Facebook when he was accused of being "crazy." He responded to the effect of "Oh yeah, I'm so messed up in the head, I'm going to go shoot up a school full of kids and eat their still, beating hearts." Justin then stated that his comments were meant to be taken as a sarcastic joke.

A woman in Canada, who came across the post, didn't see the funny side of the comments. After researching Carter's personal details--and believing he lived near an elementary school--she reported him to the local police.

Carter has been languishing in prison since February after being charged with making "terroristic threats."

In an exclusive interview, Michael Byrne of FreetoPlay.tv spoke to Jennifer Carter, Justin's mother, who explained the traumatic ordeal that her son continues to endure:

"He’s had a pretty rough time in jail. He’s never been in any kind of trouble before and hes not really familiar with the criminal world. Yeah, so he’s been transferred quite a few times after being assaulted in jail. They keep switching him from unit to unit and apparently, after the last time he was assaulted, the guards were concerned that he would try and kill himself and they placed him in solitary for his own protection."

Carter's hearing is on Monday, July 1; he is currently being held under federal felony terrorism charges.

According to his mother, neither Justin or his family had firearms in their possession when their homes were searched by police officers.

As a father and former teacher, I understand completely the fear and strength of emotions surrounding any threats towards children--particularly those in the manner that Carter made. However, those comments currently see a 19 year old, who appeared to make a poor choice in humor, facing a legal system pressing for his imprisonment for a minimum of eight years.

Jennifer Carter has begun a petition to raise awareness of her son's plight, which you can sign here.

Scottt "Jarimor" Hawkes, Editor in Chief