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Los Angeles, CA - A local man, arrested Sunday on
suspicion of a carjacking that started in the South Central
section of Los Angeles and ended in Pasadena, claims that
he has never even played "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City."
The suspect, 22-year-old Ruben Alejandro, allegedly pulled
the owner from the vehicle at gunpoint before leading police
on a high speed pursuit for more than three hours. Los Angeles
District Attorney Dan Hill said that the evidence against
both Alejandro and the video game are overwhelming and is
considering pursuing action against the manufacturer of Sony
Playstation and developer Rockstar Games.
"We've seen this game," Hill said. "We've
done extensive investigation on this game and the weapons
[Alejandro] used and the pedestrians he mercilessly ran over,
clearly mirror those depicted in the video game."
Alejandro, however, asserts that his alleged crime was motivated
purely by greed, desperation and a crippling addiction to
crack cocaine.
"I was trying to get away, that's all," Alejandro
said during his bail hearing. "I can't afford no gaudy
Playstation. That's why I'm out robbing people. I even had
to pawn my Commodore when my girl got pregnant."
Despite Alejandro's assertions of his innocence, a number
of witnesses have come forward to support the charges. Edward
Jackson of Watts was at a stoplight next to the car when he
saw the carjacking and noticed Alejandro carrying several
Grand Theft Auto-type weapons and blaring music similar to
the ones from the game.
"He had a katana and a chainsaw for chrissakes. He just
grabbed that poor lady and yanked her right out the car,"
Jackson said. "Then, when I heard the 80's music blaring
from the stereo, that was the clincher."
Still, Alejandro maintains that the similarities between
the crime and the game are purely coincidental. "I'm
not interested in playing expensive video games. I'm interested
in smoking crack. Finding crack, buying crack and smoking
crack. Crashing into cars and killing cops is just an added
bonus."
Added Alejandro, "I gotta admit, there's nothing like
playing Tetris on crack. And that game don't cost no fifty
bucks."
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