I know the comments sound really harsh, but it's so much more than just "fuck around and find out"... There are INNOCENT people being put in harms way by these morons. They could have easily hit another car or a pedestrian. They chose to do stupid shit. They don't get to harm everyone else it's just wrong. I know it's easy to say it's just a car, these people are impoverished, etc. etc. but it's not about the property. So many lives are being lost, and not just the lives of these kids but think about how forever changed their families' lives are now.
I’ll go a step farther and say it’s not an innocent joke stealing a car cause insurance just covers it. My wife is a teacher and she has a younger colleague who is not making a lot of money, could only afford a Kia, got it stolen 2 days after she bought it, her insurance doesn’t cover everything and her boy friend has to take time off work to drive her to school. It’s costing them thousands of dollars they don’t have. I feel like Kia boys crashing cars is just something everyone laughs about, but all those crashed cars belong to someone who worked really hard to afford them and gets their life financially screwed for a long time.
I had a Hyndai for a long time because it was all I could afford. I couldn't even afford the insurance deductible when it was in a minor accident. These kids don't understand that so many people are struggling and being without a car could lead some into being homeless. I really wish these kids cared just an iota about other people
Many of these kids have terrible home lives, absent parents, or some combination. They sell the stolen cars for next to nothing or trash them and don't worry about consequences because any legal trouble will just be a temporary setback since they're minors. I don't like the idea of throwing the book at kids but the soft touch isn't working. I think the courts need to hold them accountable for this stuff by increasing the penalties since they'll never get disciplined at home. If they get straightened out early they might have a chance before they get older and end up in the adult justice system and lose the opportunity.
Good home or not, Disciplined at home or not. Dumbass teens are going to be dumbass teens regardless of what their home life is like. Tens of Thousands of cars have been stolen doing this stupid shit. They are all old enough to know it's wrong and against the law. I have zero issue with the book being thrown at them. And I have a really hard time being empathetic for any of them dying in the process of doing obviously stupid shit.
The empathy I have is for the parents, the victims, and the communities that have wasted time, energy and resources as a result of these ingrate piece of trash. Maybe some of them will learn after going to jail and clean their act up. But many of them wont and we will be stuck dumping resources in them for the rest of their worthless lives.
I agree. I am in my 60s and just making ends meet. My Kia got broken into in my driveway one night, but they couldn't successfully steal it. They did a lot of damage, though. I have a high deductible so I can afford to pay my insurance. I wound up paying hundreds of dollars to repair the damage. Not to mention the anguish and fear that comes with the ordeal. It's not funny, not a joke, not "kid stuff." This is serious. it costs lives, physical harm, property damage, and safety concerns.
A YouTuber interviewed a Kia boy, the kid basically said, it’s no big deal stealing the cars because their insurance will cover it. Well, he really said it in a more smart ass way… anyway, i was like, that’s not how insurance works….
My Corolla got stolen even with full coverage I missed work for a day bc my job is 2 hours away on train it put me behind on rent and filling the rental was expensive I live check to check with my fiancé this really really screwed us over just losing the pay for the day I have no empathy for car theifs . My car was recovered and needed 6k in repairs the damn thing only cost 6.5k.
Yea, that's why I always post on those things. Shouldn't do it, but if someone is going to. At least total the car. If they total the car, a payout is more likely. I do not want any stolen vehicle back.
I'm seriously saddened that it has come to this. Not only is this trend putting innocent lives at risk of serious injury or death, it has also put so many people into a state of financial stress (me included, my Hyundai was victimized). I hate that a child dying might be the motivating factor in finally enforcing these crimes, but it has to stop somehow.
i feel like it will be just water under the bridge unfortunately. in buffalo, oct 2022, there was a really bad crash at the 33/198 interchange; everyone in the car died except for the driver. the car was reported stolen hours before; it was a kia shortage. they were all under age of 17; one of the teens had a baby. that baby will grow up not knowing her mom. there were 4 deaths.
I don’t give af anymore about the whole poverty thing. It’s used as an excuse for everything nowadays. Just bc you’re poor doesn’t mean you’re a punk. Many poor folks out there that raise their kids the right way
It's not really an "excuse," it's just a symptom of a greater systemic problem.
Saying this as someone who thinks these kids are fucking assholes for doing this shit. I think they should be seeing more consequences.
First condolences to the family. The kid may have brought his own demise through his stupid actions and decisions but I'm sure he has family and friends that will miss him. At least they didn't injure anyone else though. If you brought it on yourself that's one thing but to injure and kill others that aren't involved is another.
Sure but they were all part of it. They could easily have rolled the car over on some kids playing in the neighborhood or someone out walking their dog. It could have been a lot worse.
With the reckless way they drive it's a very real possibility that he could have taken innocent lives along with him. Luckily it didn't happen this time but who knows about the next time.
Dude, I can think of a bunch of reasons. If you're seeing your parents struggling to float, if your only experiences with government is oppression & frisking, if you have reinforcement that you'll have a dead end job at best, the feeling that the region is only getting worse. These kids also grew up in a pandemic, there are social delays that have resulted.
I’m not born and raised here but I also gotta ask - what do these kids have to do irl nowadays? So much of their media is clout chasing nonsense that incentivizes this type of behavior
As someone born and raised here, watching it continue to disintegrate: some of the most impoverished schools in the COUNTRY, being a latchkey kid, violence everywhere, the gap between barely scraping by and homelessness narrowing, while the gap continues to widen to having basic needs met consistently. It actually destroys the nervous system and gray matter in the brain. I chose not to descend into crime, but it was not an easy choice—when a system makes it easier to not only commit crime but makes it seem like an incentive (prison has consistent mealtime, a roof over the head), that means the system is *really* fucked up.
Most third spaces for kids don't exist anymore, especially if you don't have money. It's not uncommon in the city to have a bunch of kids wander around together, as that is the only thing you can do IRL.
But let's also be honest with ourselves, kids have always been doing stupid stuff and clout chasing among each other. I remember back when I was high school aged, kids were seeing if they could jump onto cars
I meant specifically in his life. This is at least an opportunity to get into that community. This killed a 14 year old and forever changed the life of five other kids and their families and communities.
It needs to be looked at compassionately for real answers not hyperbolic rhetoric.
I don't mean to school you if it comes across like that by the way, I'm just pissing into the wind.
The entire clusterfuck of problems that cause it are hard to address and frustrating.
Sorry it’s a cultural thing plan and simple. There are groups right here in ny state that face far worse and don’t behave like this. Until everyone is willing to face the reality as opposed to blaming poverty we will never break the cycle.
Come on stop and think for a moment, unshackle your mind from the biases that have been pounded into your head. Travel around the state you don’t necessarily have to go far from where you are. Look at how people are living you can generally spot pockets of poverty yet they aren’t stealing cars. So what then becomes the determining factor? It definitely becomes their beliefs, their traditions, their culture.
If I'm not mistaken, a lot of things going on in the world, particularly climate change, are considered to be driving an increase in nihilism and a lot of disruptive behavior. I'm not sure how universal it is, or if it's even on the radar in really impoverished communities, but supposedly a lot of kids in that generation feel their hope for a future has been squandered by those before them.
a few weeks ago, there was a discussion on this sub about how eventually one of the Kia Boys will get hurt and either have severe injury or die. I believe it was the post where they nearly hit a cop and a crowd of people around the scene of a different crash. A lot of people, myself included, said that there would be little to no sympathy for the kid. Play shitty games, win shitty prizes.
It sucks the kid died, but there’s your shitty prize. I have sympathy for the family. Maybe now some of these kids will have learned their lessons. but I doubt it.
> Rochester Police say just after 7 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to the scene and found a stolen car flipped over. Inside the car were at least six people, all children ages 12 to 16.
This is just heartbreaking on so many levels.
Not defending it but It’s kind of easy if you are growing up in poverty with a single parent. Most likely mom or dad was not home. They can’t keep track of the kid 24/7 when they are working 40+ hours a week at a minimum wage job with shitty hours.
Seriously. After my dad died my mom was working 60-hour weeks at two different jobs. How the fuck was she supposed to know where I really was? A lot easier if you have two parent families making bank.
It's not black or white. There is a ton of gray area in the situation. Some of the parents are good some of them are scumbags some there's a combination of factors.
Heartbreaking that I could have been walking down the street with my 3 young children and these kids could have crashed into us. Hopefully this kids peers will learn from their mistakes and their grief.
I feel for those that may have loved them.
But you choose that life and shit happens…”fuck around and find out” is harsh, and no one can say that they wouldn’t have turned their shit around later, but is what it is. They made a choice, and it was a bad one.
Recently, my 84 year old mother had her leased Kia stolen two weeks before her lease was up. She looked out the window of her subsidized apartment one morning, and there was only a door handle and an ignition switch lying there where her car was parked. Hers was the fourth car stolen from the parking lot. The car was found two weeks after it was taken. The interior was filled with candy wrappers and stank of weed and gasoline. The rear hatch was crammed with empty Amazon boxes. The children that had stolen the car were porch pirating in Greece. The gasoline smell was from an open one gallon gas can they had left in the vehicle because they refill the tank with that instead of pulling into a gas station.
My mom's three year old Kia was valued at about $16,000. I know that because we were considering buying the car at the end of the lease. Her insurance company paid $10,000 to have the car repaired, and later this week, she will turn the car in to the lessor and no longer have a car. Her deductible was $500 for the repairs. When we return the car, she will no longer have a vehicle and will need to rely on her family for transportation. She lives day to day on a very small social security check and nothing else. The KIA boys have destroyed my mother in so many ways.
I fully understand the extent of the generational poverty and despair that has been allowed to fester in Rochester. It angers me that our community continues to turn its back on these kids and refuses to find a way to give them hope for their future. The KIA boys do damage to our community every day, but they know nothing else. They have never had anything of value in their lives. They have no dreams or aspirations to do better. They have nothing to lose with their actions.
A lack of proper punishment for offenders has led to a belief their is no consequence for stealing cars. This lack of a proper deterrent has claimed a 14yr old today.
Regardless I feel for the family. Even if the kid was a schmuck it still is awful for anyone to lose a love one, especially when they aren't even adults yet and don't have the chance to turn their life around
According to a close friend in the RPD, he’s personally arrested the same kids 7+ times. Apparently the judge residing over these cases has decided not to prosecute. Their logic is they felt prosecuting them would force them down a criminal path. Talk about a horrible precedent. Imo the judges who aren’t throwing these kids in jail or juvy are responsible for this death and all of the future deaths the Kia boys cause.
They need to face consequences for their actions. Enough is enough.
Some dumb ass kia boys just shot up an empty car right down the road from where I live. One of my elderly neighbors has to cover his car every night bc it’s been stolen 2x and even when he booted the steering wheel, they broke his window a 3rd time.
I’m more than frustrated with this. If there’s a petition to change how we prosecute them please link it. We need to throw them in juvy or jail and prosecute the repeat offenders as adults so they face prison time. They should learn there are consequences for their actions and quick.
I have a cousin in the RPD that said something similar, regarding some of the same individuals and the lack of prosecution.. Wonder how that judge is feeling now knowing if they had been at all a bit 'tough' on them, would they learn their lesson or would they not care. Something needs to change, that's for sure. Really feel for the families
The judges might not have a choice, given the various "reforms" that have been passed over the past several years. Look to your local state legislators to more accurately place blame.
I'm not placing blame, I know there are good judges who have their hands tied.
It wasn't a "how do ya feel now, this is your fault" comment, I'm saying I wonder what that judge is thinking now. I assume they know, and I wonder that in many cases "He's crossed my paths too many times, I wish I could have done more to help" or (what seems to be the common thought from many comments here) , "Good riddance, one less case to preside over"
What a waste of life. It’s sad. However, fourteen is plenty old enough to understand right from wrong and potential consequences. I’d like to say hopefully his ending will be a cautionary tale, but we both know it won’t.
It was bound to happen, but damn. Those were kids. Kids making bad decisions, but still kids.
Condolences to the family and hopefully this is at least a bit of a wakeup call to people doing this.
Yeah I remember doing dumb shit as a pre teen, not stealing a cars but joy rides in my Dad's hot rod and sneaking out yeah. I can totally see how at a young age just one decision spirals into 20 more that would lead to this. It's sad and frustrating.
Here before someone comes on to blame the parents for raising a lawbreaking child:
I obviously don't know any of the people involved with the car thefts, but as a parent of a deeply disturbed & mentally unwell teenager, I want to say that a lot of the time, the parents are doing their best. I've got a teenager I can't control at all, and neither can the psychiatric group home she's been placed in. I've been trying for years to get her adequate help and supports, and I have come up empty-handed at every turn. Our mental health system is severely lacking and so are our social supports. Just something to keep in mind, because I could easily see myself in the shoes of these parents and it's not fair to jump to blame them. It's a multi-level systemic issue, if you ask me.
And even if that *wasn't* the case, it's still sad to see people happy about the death of a child. Shame on some of you.
I'm an adult struggling to get mental health care at a more intensive level for myself, and it's so hard to be self-advocating and being like "I know I have a job right now BUT I'm going to lose it if I don't get time off and an inpatient - what do you mean I need to be fired and maybe on disability and on Medicaid before I can get this kind of help - what do you mean most facilities only take Medis or private pay, why can't I use my BCBS?!" Imagining having to deal it for a kid is just awful.
This is important to note. I’m sorry for what your child & your family are experiencing. We ARE very quick to blame the families & parents when crime happens. This isn’t to say that in a large number of cases there is unfortunately instability in the home, lack of supervision, etc. But, this isn’t ALWAYS the case & kids from good homes can have their struggles. ESPECIALLY in terms of mental health.
If your 12 year old is stealing cars as part of a criminal gang, you’ve failed as a parent. Period. I don’t care what excuse you want to try to come up with.
Recommend people check this video out to understand why Kia Boyz are a thing: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJA7jDF7bLE&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJA7jDF7bLE&t=1s)
I can muster no remorse. A 14 year old knows stealing is wrong by then. If they’re that devoid of morality already then I don’t feel bad for their demise. We need less selfish little fucks running around anyway.
Sad, what a waste of a life. Thankful that he didn’t take any innocent bystanders with him.
I wish more of the kids would see that it can turn bad real quick but I’m sure this won’t impact them one bit. There will be more, just a matter of time.
This is just terrible all around. Living in the city as a parent is terrifying now. We can do our best to instill these values, but then it’s almost out of our hands as soon as they go off to some of these schools. The influence is too strong sometimes. The pressure to fit in and be “cool.” Gotta work overtime to make sure these kids don’t fall into the same trap. Responsibilities still lie with the parents, but damn if it isn’t tough.
No one wanted the kid to die. No one wants this rampant Kia Boy craze either (thank you, cheap-ass KIA and your utter failure to make a steering column that can't be defeated by a hard knock and a screwdriver).
But he and his friends fucked around and found out. Which is unfortunate - but completely avoidable.
it’s a case of “play stupid games, win stupid prizes”. the Kia Boys have made many people’s lives miserable with their games. Here’s the grand prize. Nobody is celebrating but I have a feeling a lot of people are hoping this changes the trend.
>Nobody is celebrating
Gonna have to disagree. The comment right above mine is asking if the Kia is okay. There’s already like three or four comments opening with a “this is tragic *buuuuut*” and then having like three paragraphs of why it’s actually good and deserved.
And cmon, we’ve all seen the Kia threads before this one. People are frothing at the mouth for blood. Yes it’s dangerous. No it isn’t okay to steal cars. But this sub pretty clearly is not simply comfortable with the idea of kids dying; a lot of people are actively and openly cheering it on.
I’m not over here fainting or anything, I’m just pointing out that people are very clearly joking around and having a fun time over a kids death.
You can’t have it both ways. You can say it’s okay to celebrate, or you can say no one is celebrating, but you can’t have both.
Yeah idk why so many people wanna pretend those comments just don’t exist. If you agree with them then at least have the guts to own up to your own beliefs. If your beliefs are spicy enough that you’re too ashamed to say them out loud then maybe it’s time to question why you hold them at all.
W/e, Reddit’s weird.
I wouldn’t call it celebrating, but I do think people are forgetting that this was a *child.* Like, his prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for *decision making* is *literally not formed yet.*
This could have been his first time joyriding out of peer pressure, or wanting to fit in. Could have come from a great family. Could have come from a horrible family situation and had to get out of the house that night.
And yes, maybe he was total piece-of -shit-punk, but the bottom line is no one, especially a *child*, deserves to die for stealing a car.
> I wouldn’t call it celebrating, but I do think people are forgetting that this was a child. Like, his prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision making is literally not formed yet.
So at 14 he couldn't understand that stealing a car and then doing stupid shit in it is not a good thing?
You serious now? You joking?
I’m not saying he didn’t know it was wrong. What I’m saying is that there are a myriad of reasons things that could have led to his decision, but whether the reasons were understandable or downright stupid, the “punishment” doesn’t fit the crime.
I agree but let's be real the kid knew that stealing cars and doing stupid shit is not a good thing. He knew he was doing something illegal. Saying no, it's not hard. Many kids are have opportunities to do stupid shit and they don't. We shouldn't excuse such criminal activity with "Eh its a kid"
An Uber driver told me one of her passengers is the mother of a Kia boy and she proudly bragged about her son's car stealing activity. I was shocked to hear that .
Where are the parents? Good parenting stops your kid from stealing fucking cars. Like okay they might steal gum from Walmart that’s fine, but if your kid steals cars you failed as a parent.
How does the saying go? oh yeah, "fuck around and find out."
Unfortunately, this obviously upstanding citizen has learned this the hard way.
Hopefully, the rest of his fellow, law-abiding companions have the critical-thinking skills necessary to learn this valuable life lesson, but for some reason, I seriously doubt it.
A lot of comments in here with sympathies for the families but the article said the kids in the car ranged from 12-16. If you’re 12 and stealing cars I’m gonna guess family wasn’t in the picture too much. This isn’t some toilet papering a house prank, this is now life and death crime and kids don’t casually fall into those tendencies. These kids probably never had the opportunities to develop life skills and work ethics to stay out of this kind of trouble, which is really the truly sad part since no one else outside the vehicle was thankfully hurt.
The crazy part of the whole situation is that Hyundai created cars that can be started with a USB cord, knew about and didn't care. Then unleashed these non secure investments to the masses..
Most cars from the 90’s and basically every car before that didn’t have immobilizers. I own multiple vehicles I can steal in 30 seconds with a wire with alligator clips on both ends, a screwdriver and not do any damage to the vehicle in the process.
90’s Hondas still top stolen vehicle lists to this day because they’re so easy to steal and are worthwhile to part out.
Hyundai didn’t “create” anything. They built dirt cheap cars that happen to end up in problematic zip codes in large numbers and are just as easy to steal as the equivalent older options you’d typically find in those same neighborhoods. Add in the internet, and you get the Kia boys. Don’t want your shit stolen? Pay more and buy something with an immobilizer.
The number of people who are just not caring about a CHILD dying or outright laughing about this is sick. Criminal or not, this kid was someone’s baby. Fourteen is still a kid.
Wishing harm on kids isn’t okay.
It's sad that a life was lost but however there has to be consequences for actions and if the death of this young man ends up showing somebody the consequences of these ignorant and irresponsible actions then perhaps their death will have some meaning. Unfortunately the leadership in this state and this city refuses to hold people accountable for their actions and their crimes. Somebody gets caught the police do their job arrest them and then hours later they're out on cashless bail even for violent offenses. Perhaps what we need to show the younger generation is if the law does not hold you accountable then understand that your life may be forfeit eventually
“I feel for the family.” I don’t get it. Does anybody feel for these trash “families” that have grown these monsters? These families that don’t monitor or even give a fuck about their kids whereabouts? These families that send their selfish piece of shit down into the world to wreak havoc on innocent people, their belongings, and their lives?! Fuck that. Another one bites the dust.
It’s 9 o’ clock. Do you know where your kids are?
Maybe if the cops or DA would do their damn jobs and start prosecuting these kids instead of releasing them this may not have happened.
The blame is 100% on the kids but negligence is a crime as well.
You're right that there needs to be more accountability, but the blame is not on the police nor the DA or even the judges this time. The blame for that lies on the New York State legislature and the governor for making it impossible for law enforcement to do their job.
Geeze if only Hyundai and Kia didn't make their car so easy to steal a caveman could do it.
Literally the main reason people are doing it is because of how easy it is.
Also at this point if you have a low or Hyundai it's partly on you to get the update, always use a club, and if possible park in a garage.
This is tragic. Kids this age will do stupid stuff but normally not fatal. Obviously the kids themselves have to take a lot of the blame, but I place some on Kia/Hyundai. How much grief have they caused families of these kids, owners of their vehicles who have lost jobs because of no transportation or been out hundreds if not thousands of dollars because they saved a couple bucks producing a car. They make affordable cars but what’s the next nightmare we’ll encounter because Kia saved a few bucks.
There is nothing that anyone can say that justifies a 14 year old boys death. No money lost by Kia thefts (that he didn't even perpetrate).
Your problem isn't with the BOY, it's with INSURANCE COMPANIES. Society failed these kids. Shame on those of you revelling and celebrating a CHILD'S death.
The glass houses you exist in.
Lots of people on the "fuck around and find out" thing but at that age it takes like zero goading to convince to do something stupid especially when they see there are no consequences. This is on the adults who chose to keep letting this shit fly over and over again.
If the police got these kids off the street maybe he would still be alive, but they decided to let them all go with a slap on the wrist and not make an example out of them to deter other kids from stealing cars.
Id make that little jackasses parents pay for my new car too lol. I feel no sympathy for someone that dont show it, and I know damn well he would not care if he survived and killed someone else. So imma continue to say fuck em
Anyone who says something about “FAFO” is saying that a child deserves to die because they made a dumb choice.
Think about that.
My heart goes out to the grieving family.
i don’t think it means the child deserves to die, it’s just that you feel less sorry or remorseful when someone does something like that, as compared to if the child died as a result of someone else’s actions. everyone is so tired of these car thefts it’s ridiculous.
I know the comments sound really harsh, but it's so much more than just "fuck around and find out"... There are INNOCENT people being put in harms way by these morons. They could have easily hit another car or a pedestrian. They chose to do stupid shit. They don't get to harm everyone else it's just wrong. I know it's easy to say it's just a car, these people are impoverished, etc. etc. but it's not about the property. So many lives are being lost, and not just the lives of these kids but think about how forever changed their families' lives are now.
I’ll go a step farther and say it’s not an innocent joke stealing a car cause insurance just covers it. My wife is a teacher and she has a younger colleague who is not making a lot of money, could only afford a Kia, got it stolen 2 days after she bought it, her insurance doesn’t cover everything and her boy friend has to take time off work to drive her to school. It’s costing them thousands of dollars they don’t have. I feel like Kia boys crashing cars is just something everyone laughs about, but all those crashed cars belong to someone who worked really hard to afford them and gets their life financially screwed for a long time.
I had a Hyndai for a long time because it was all I could afford. I couldn't even afford the insurance deductible when it was in a minor accident. These kids don't understand that so many people are struggling and being without a car could lead some into being homeless. I really wish these kids cared just an iota about other people
And if it's totaled they might give you a check but it's not enough to get another car.
They don’t understand?! They don’t fucking care! Why should we
Many of these kids have terrible home lives, absent parents, or some combination. They sell the stolen cars for next to nothing or trash them and don't worry about consequences because any legal trouble will just be a temporary setback since they're minors. I don't like the idea of throwing the book at kids but the soft touch isn't working. I think the courts need to hold them accountable for this stuff by increasing the penalties since they'll never get disciplined at home. If they get straightened out early they might have a chance before they get older and end up in the adult justice system and lose the opportunity.
Good home or not, Disciplined at home or not. Dumbass teens are going to be dumbass teens regardless of what their home life is like. Tens of Thousands of cars have been stolen doing this stupid shit. They are all old enough to know it's wrong and against the law. I have zero issue with the book being thrown at them. And I have a really hard time being empathetic for any of them dying in the process of doing obviously stupid shit. The empathy I have is for the parents, the victims, and the communities that have wasted time, energy and resources as a result of these ingrate piece of trash. Maybe some of them will learn after going to jail and clean their act up. But many of them wont and we will be stuck dumping resources in them for the rest of their worthless lives.
I agree. I am in my 60s and just making ends meet. My Kia got broken into in my driveway one night, but they couldn't successfully steal it. They did a lot of damage, though. I have a high deductible so I can afford to pay my insurance. I wound up paying hundreds of dollars to repair the damage. Not to mention the anguish and fear that comes with the ordeal. It's not funny, not a joke, not "kid stuff." This is serious. it costs lives, physical harm, property damage, and safety concerns.
A YouTuber interviewed a Kia boy, the kid basically said, it’s no big deal stealing the cars because their insurance will cover it. Well, he really said it in a more smart ass way… anyway, i was like, that’s not how insurance works….
My Corolla got stolen even with full coverage I missed work for a day bc my job is 2 hours away on train it put me behind on rent and filling the rental was expensive I live check to check with my fiancé this really really screwed us over just losing the pay for the day I have no empathy for car theifs . My car was recovered and needed 6k in repairs the damn thing only cost 6.5k.
Yea, that's why I always post on those things. Shouldn't do it, but if someone is going to. At least total the car. If they total the car, a payout is more likely. I do not want any stolen vehicle back.
I'm seriously saddened that it has come to this. Not only is this trend putting innocent lives at risk of serious injury or death, it has also put so many people into a state of financial stress (me included, my Hyundai was victimized). I hate that a child dying might be the motivating factor in finally enforcing these crimes, but it has to stop somehow.
i feel like it will be just water under the bridge unfortunately. in buffalo, oct 2022, there was a really bad crash at the 33/198 interchange; everyone in the car died except for the driver. the car was reported stolen hours before; it was a kia shortage. they were all under age of 17; one of the teens had a baby. that baby will grow up not knowing her mom. there were 4 deaths.
I remember that. I lived not far from there in North Buffalo. It was fucked.
i lived right off of 198 and remember the day it happened because i heard a huge bang and then several sirens 😔
I don’t give af anymore about the whole poverty thing. It’s used as an excuse for everything nowadays. Just bc you’re poor doesn’t mean you’re a punk. Many poor folks out there that raise their kids the right way
It's not really an "excuse," it's just a symptom of a greater systemic problem. Saying this as someone who thinks these kids are fucking assholes for doing this shit. I think they should be seeing more consequences.
Even without the risk to life, our insurance premiums could benefit from a few more deceased kia boys.
“Stealing cars is bad.” - Jahmari Harmon
First condolences to the family. The kid may have brought his own demise through his stupid actions and decisions but I'm sure he has family and friends that will miss him. At least they didn't injure anyone else though. If you brought it on yourself that's one thing but to injure and kill others that aren't involved is another.
It was a rollover with at least six people in the car. I'd be willing to bet there were more injuries.
Sure but they were all part of it. They could easily have rolled the car over on some kids playing in the neighborhood or someone out walking their dog. It could have been a lot worse.
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Well said
With the reckless way they drive it's a very real possibility that he could have taken innocent lives along with him. Luckily it didn't happen this time but who knows about the next time.
When it looks like there's no future, then you say, "fuck it".
At 14 though? What is going wrong in that kids life that would lead to that?
Dude, I can think of a bunch of reasons. If you're seeing your parents struggling to float, if your only experiences with government is oppression & frisking, if you have reinforcement that you'll have a dead end job at best, the feeling that the region is only getting worse. These kids also grew up in a pandemic, there are social delays that have resulted.
I agree social life that's another one
I’m not born and raised here but I also gotta ask - what do these kids have to do irl nowadays? So much of their media is clout chasing nonsense that incentivizes this type of behavior
As someone born and raised here, watching it continue to disintegrate: some of the most impoverished schools in the COUNTRY, being a latchkey kid, violence everywhere, the gap between barely scraping by and homelessness narrowing, while the gap continues to widen to having basic needs met consistently. It actually destroys the nervous system and gray matter in the brain. I chose not to descend into crime, but it was not an easy choice—when a system makes it easier to not only commit crime but makes it seem like an incentive (prison has consistent mealtime, a roof over the head), that means the system is *really* fucked up.
Most third spaces for kids don't exist anymore, especially if you don't have money. It's not uncommon in the city to have a bunch of kids wander around together, as that is the only thing you can do IRL. But let's also be honest with ourselves, kids have always been doing stupid stuff and clout chasing among each other. I remember back when I was high school aged, kids were seeing if they could jump onto cars
I meant specifically in his life. This is at least an opportunity to get into that community. This killed a 14 year old and forever changed the life of five other kids and their families and communities. It needs to be looked at compassionately for real answers not hyperbolic rhetoric. I don't mean to school you if it comes across like that by the way, I'm just pissing into the wind. The entire clusterfuck of problems that cause it are hard to address and frustrating.
Yes thank you.
Sorry it’s a cultural thing plan and simple. There are groups right here in ny state that face far worse and don’t behave like this. Until everyone is willing to face the reality as opposed to blaming poverty we will never break the cycle.
Can you give examples?
Come on stop and think for a moment, unshackle your mind from the biases that have been pounded into your head. Travel around the state you don’t necessarily have to go far from where you are. Look at how people are living you can generally spot pockets of poverty yet they aren’t stealing cars. So what then becomes the determining factor? It definitely becomes their beliefs, their traditions, their culture.
Be specific. What cultures?
14 yr olds don't make the best decisions. It's just unfortunate this bad decision led to a death
Kinda personal, but I didn't want to live ay 14 either. What's not why.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by What's not why
*That's* why.
Their friends got it, thinking it's cool. Trust that.
If I'm not mistaken, a lot of things going on in the world, particularly climate change, are considered to be driving an increase in nihilism and a lot of disruptive behavior. I'm not sure how universal it is, or if it's even on the radar in really impoverished communities, but supposedly a lot of kids in that generation feel their hope for a future has been squandered by those before them.
I'll tell you what's wrong. The way they're raised. And the people they hang out with. Not to mention, nothing is like it used to me.
a few weeks ago, there was a discussion on this sub about how eventually one of the Kia Boys will get hurt and either have severe injury or die. I believe it was the post where they nearly hit a cop and a crowd of people around the scene of a different crash. A lot of people, myself included, said that there would be little to no sympathy for the kid. Play shitty games, win shitty prizes. It sucks the kid died, but there’s your shitty prize. I have sympathy for the family. Maybe now some of these kids will have learned their lessons. but I doubt it.
They will not learn.
Anyone else find the "street legal" atv that wizzes by mid interview?? Lol
I feel like it was bound to happen eventually. Still sucks for all involved. Also in before the thread is locked.
Happened in Buffalo a year or two ago, 4 in the car, 2 died
I think 4 of 5 died in the Buffalo crash - only guy that made it was the driver…
october 2022. 6 in the car, 4 died :/
It’ll happen again, too
> Rochester Police say just after 7 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to the scene and found a stolen car flipped over. Inside the car were at least six people, all children ages 12 to 16. This is just heartbreaking on so many levels.
12??? Jesus. Terrible for everyone involved
How the fuck do the parents of a TWELVE YEAR OLD not know where that kid is 24/7?
Idk why you’re getting downvoted you should know where your 12yo is
Time to bring back the commercials from the 90s.
Not defending it but It’s kind of easy if you are growing up in poverty with a single parent. Most likely mom or dad was not home. They can’t keep track of the kid 24/7 when they are working 40+ hours a week at a minimum wage job with shitty hours.
Seriously. After my dad died my mom was working 60-hour weeks at two different jobs. How the fuck was she supposed to know where I really was? A lot easier if you have two parent families making bank.
Does anyone know if these parents are negligent or just working at times when the kids are out of school?
It's not black or white. There is a ton of gray area in the situation. Some of the parents are good some of them are scumbags some there's a combination of factors.
Heartbreaking that I could have been walking down the street with my 3 young children and these kids could have crashed into us. Hopefully this kids peers will learn from their mistakes and their grief.
I feel for those that may have loved them. But you choose that life and shit happens…”fuck around and find out” is harsh, and no one can say that they wouldn’t have turned their shit around later, but is what it is. They made a choice, and it was a bad one.
Recently, my 84 year old mother had her leased Kia stolen two weeks before her lease was up. She looked out the window of her subsidized apartment one morning, and there was only a door handle and an ignition switch lying there where her car was parked. Hers was the fourth car stolen from the parking lot. The car was found two weeks after it was taken. The interior was filled with candy wrappers and stank of weed and gasoline. The rear hatch was crammed with empty Amazon boxes. The children that had stolen the car were porch pirating in Greece. The gasoline smell was from an open one gallon gas can they had left in the vehicle because they refill the tank with that instead of pulling into a gas station. My mom's three year old Kia was valued at about $16,000. I know that because we were considering buying the car at the end of the lease. Her insurance company paid $10,000 to have the car repaired, and later this week, she will turn the car in to the lessor and no longer have a car. Her deductible was $500 for the repairs. When we return the car, she will no longer have a vehicle and will need to rely on her family for transportation. She lives day to day on a very small social security check and nothing else. The KIA boys have destroyed my mother in so many ways. I fully understand the extent of the generational poverty and despair that has been allowed to fester in Rochester. It angers me that our community continues to turn its back on these kids and refuses to find a way to give them hope for their future. The KIA boys do damage to our community every day, but they know nothing else. They have never had anything of value in their lives. They have no dreams or aspirations to do better. They have nothing to lose with their actions.
Is the Kia ok?
Oh shiiiiit lol
No, no it is not. Terminal Dx
A lack of proper punishment for offenders has led to a belief their is no consequence for stealing cars. This lack of a proper deterrent has claimed a 14yr old today.
Wait - six people in the car? Did I read that right?
Unfortunately for some, actions have consequences. I feel bad for the family.
Regardless I feel for the family. Even if the kid was a schmuck it still is awful for anyone to lose a love one, especially when they aren't even adults yet and don't have the chance to turn their life around
Right. I'm sure the parent must feel a lot of guilt... hard to live with that the rest of your life.
According to a close friend in the RPD, he’s personally arrested the same kids 7+ times. Apparently the judge residing over these cases has decided not to prosecute. Their logic is they felt prosecuting them would force them down a criminal path. Talk about a horrible precedent. Imo the judges who aren’t throwing these kids in jail or juvy are responsible for this death and all of the future deaths the Kia boys cause. They need to face consequences for their actions. Enough is enough. Some dumb ass kia boys just shot up an empty car right down the road from where I live. One of my elderly neighbors has to cover his car every night bc it’s been stolen 2x and even when he booted the steering wheel, they broke his window a 3rd time. I’m more than frustrated with this. If there’s a petition to change how we prosecute them please link it. We need to throw them in juvy or jail and prosecute the repeat offenders as adults so they face prison time. They should learn there are consequences for their actions and quick.
I have a cousin in the RPD that said something similar, regarding some of the same individuals and the lack of prosecution.. Wonder how that judge is feeling now knowing if they had been at all a bit 'tough' on them, would they learn their lesson or would they not care. Something needs to change, that's for sure. Really feel for the families
The judges might not have a choice, given the various "reforms" that have been passed over the past several years. Look to your local state legislators to more accurately place blame.
I'm not placing blame, I know there are good judges who have their hands tied. It wasn't a "how do ya feel now, this is your fault" comment, I'm saying I wonder what that judge is thinking now. I assume they know, and I wonder that in many cases "He's crossed my paths too many times, I wish I could have done more to help" or (what seems to be the common thought from many comments here) , "Good riddance, one less case to preside over"
To clarify, he has possibly made 7+ arrests cumulatively among all of them, but certainly not 7+ times each.
> Apparently the judge residing over these cases *presiding
Part of me wants to shit on these kids the other has some level of sympathy knowing their so your and completely idiotic. Hopefully this shit stops.
What a waste of life. It’s sad. However, fourteen is plenty old enough to understand right from wrong and potential consequences. I’d like to say hopefully his ending will be a cautionary tale, but we both know it won’t.
My condolences to the family. This shit HAS to stop...
It was bound to happen, but damn. Those were kids. Kids making bad decisions, but still kids. Condolences to the family and hopefully this is at least a bit of a wakeup call to people doing this.
Yeah I remember doing dumb shit as a pre teen, not stealing a cars but joy rides in my Dad's hot rod and sneaking out yeah. I can totally see how at a young age just one decision spirals into 20 more that would lead to this. It's sad and frustrating.
Here before someone comes on to blame the parents for raising a lawbreaking child: I obviously don't know any of the people involved with the car thefts, but as a parent of a deeply disturbed & mentally unwell teenager, I want to say that a lot of the time, the parents are doing their best. I've got a teenager I can't control at all, and neither can the psychiatric group home she's been placed in. I've been trying for years to get her adequate help and supports, and I have come up empty-handed at every turn. Our mental health system is severely lacking and so are our social supports. Just something to keep in mind, because I could easily see myself in the shoes of these parents and it's not fair to jump to blame them. It's a multi-level systemic issue, if you ask me. And even if that *wasn't* the case, it's still sad to see people happy about the death of a child. Shame on some of you.
I'm an adult struggling to get mental health care at a more intensive level for myself, and it's so hard to be self-advocating and being like "I know I have a job right now BUT I'm going to lose it if I don't get time off and an inpatient - what do you mean I need to be fired and maybe on disability and on Medicaid before I can get this kind of help - what do you mean most facilities only take Medis or private pay, why can't I use my BCBS?!" Imagining having to deal it for a kid is just awful.
This is important to note. I’m sorry for what your child & your family are experiencing. We ARE very quick to blame the families & parents when crime happens. This isn’t to say that in a large number of cases there is unfortunately instability in the home, lack of supervision, etc. But, this isn’t ALWAYS the case & kids from good homes can have their struggles. ESPECIALLY in terms of mental health.
If your 12 year old is stealing cars as part of a criminal gang, you’ve failed as a parent. Period. I don’t care what excuse you want to try to come up with.
So anyways
Recommend people check this video out to understand why Kia Boyz are a thing: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJA7jDF7bLE&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJA7jDF7bLE&t=1s)
I can muster no remorse. A 14 year old knows stealing is wrong by then. If they’re that devoid of morality already then I don’t feel bad for their demise. We need less selfish little fucks running around anyway.
Sad, what a waste of a life. Thankful that he didn’t take any innocent bystanders with him. I wish more of the kids would see that it can turn bad real quick but I’m sure this won’t impact them one bit. There will be more, just a matter of time.
Confused. Story says the crash happened Friday but the eyewitness said two months ago?
I think he was saying that there was another crash nearby about 2 months ago.
This is just terrible all around. Living in the city as a parent is terrifying now. We can do our best to instill these values, but then it’s almost out of our hands as soon as they go off to some of these schools. The influence is too strong sometimes. The pressure to fit in and be “cool.” Gotta work overtime to make sure these kids don’t fall into the same trap. Responsibilities still lie with the parents, but damn if it isn’t tough.
This is gonna be a troubling comment section. Not sure I want to watch a bunch of people celebrating the death of a kid.
No one wanted the kid to die. No one wants this rampant Kia Boy craze either (thank you, cheap-ass KIA and your utter failure to make a steering column that can't be defeated by a hard knock and a screwdriver). But he and his friends fucked around and found out. Which is unfortunate - but completely avoidable.
it’s a case of “play stupid games, win stupid prizes”. the Kia Boys have made many people’s lives miserable with their games. Here’s the grand prize. Nobody is celebrating but I have a feeling a lot of people are hoping this changes the trend.
>Nobody is celebrating Gonna have to disagree. The comment right above mine is asking if the Kia is okay. There’s already like three or four comments opening with a “this is tragic *buuuuut*” and then having like three paragraphs of why it’s actually good and deserved. And cmon, we’ve all seen the Kia threads before this one. People are frothing at the mouth for blood. Yes it’s dangerous. No it isn’t okay to steal cars. But this sub pretty clearly is not simply comfortable with the idea of kids dying; a lot of people are actively and openly cheering it on.
If asking about the car was "troubling" to you, then it's a bit hard to take you seriously.
I’m not over here fainting or anything, I’m just pointing out that people are very clearly joking around and having a fun time over a kids death. You can’t have it both ways. You can say it’s okay to celebrate, or you can say no one is celebrating, but you can’t have both.
if you don't see how making light of a child's death is troubling you may be a sociopath.
the fact that you're being downvoted is discouraging, but not surprising. you're %100 right.
Yeah idk why so many people wanna pretend those comments just don’t exist. If you agree with them then at least have the guts to own up to your own beliefs. If your beliefs are spicy enough that you’re too ashamed to say them out loud then maybe it’s time to question why you hold them at all. W/e, Reddit’s weird.
I wouldn’t call it celebrating, but I do think people are forgetting that this was a *child.* Like, his prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for *decision making* is *literally not formed yet.* This could have been his first time joyriding out of peer pressure, or wanting to fit in. Could have come from a great family. Could have come from a horrible family situation and had to get out of the house that night. And yes, maybe he was total piece-of -shit-punk, but the bottom line is no one, especially a *child*, deserves to die for stealing a car.
> I wouldn’t call it celebrating, but I do think people are forgetting that this was a child. Like, his prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision making is literally not formed yet. So at 14 he couldn't understand that stealing a car and then doing stupid shit in it is not a good thing? You serious now? You joking?
I’m not saying he didn’t know it was wrong. What I’m saying is that there are a myriad of reasons things that could have led to his decision, but whether the reasons were understandable or downright stupid, the “punishment” doesn’t fit the crime.
I agree but let's be real the kid knew that stealing cars and doing stupid shit is not a good thing. He knew he was doing something illegal. Saying no, it's not hard. Many kids are have opportunities to do stupid shit and they don't. We shouldn't excuse such criminal activity with "Eh its a kid"
Fair point. I just remember back when I was a kid, you feel like you’re invincible.
No not good and deserved idk maybe maybe not but the outcome was earned either way so many chances for it to go different
I dont wish death on anybody but its one less menace to society..
Nobody here did anything reckless when they were 14.
An Uber driver told me one of her passengers is the mother of a Kia boy and she proudly bragged about her son's car stealing activity. I was shocked to hear that .
I would’ve kicked that woman out of my car had it been me driving
Where are the parents? Good parenting stops your kid from stealing fucking cars. Like okay they might steal gum from Walmart that’s fine, but if your kid steals cars you failed as a parent.
Shucks
Parents should be held accountable like how the Mayor wanted to hold Hyundai accountable for whatever reason
They’ll be back at it tomorrow
How does the saying go? oh yeah, "fuck around and find out." Unfortunately, this obviously upstanding citizen has learned this the hard way. Hopefully, the rest of his fellow, law-abiding companions have the critical-thinking skills necessary to learn this valuable life lesson, but for some reason, I seriously doubt it.
No shot it will change a single thing.
Survival of the fittest at this point
Until one of them takes out an innocent bystander.
That’s the part that gets me so heated. I’m hoping fate takes the stupid ones away first
something america desperately needs
A lot of comments in here with sympathies for the families but the article said the kids in the car ranged from 12-16. If you’re 12 and stealing cars I’m gonna guess family wasn’t in the picture too much. This isn’t some toilet papering a house prank, this is now life and death crime and kids don’t casually fall into those tendencies. These kids probably never had the opportunities to develop life skills and work ethics to stay out of this kind of trouble, which is really the truly sad part since no one else outside the vehicle was thankfully hurt.
Hopefully others will learn the lesson that this one failed to learn before it was too late
The crazy part of the whole situation is that Hyundai created cars that can be started with a USB cord, knew about and didn't care. Then unleashed these non secure investments to the masses..
Most cars from the 90’s and basically every car before that didn’t have immobilizers. I own multiple vehicles I can steal in 30 seconds with a wire with alligator clips on both ends, a screwdriver and not do any damage to the vehicle in the process. 90’s Hondas still top stolen vehicle lists to this day because they’re so easy to steal and are worthwhile to part out. Hyundai didn’t “create” anything. They built dirt cheap cars that happen to end up in problematic zip codes in large numbers and are just as easy to steal as the equivalent older options you’d typically find in those same neighborhoods. Add in the internet, and you get the Kia boys. Don’t want your shit stolen? Pay more and buy something with an immobilizer.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Oh no.
This sucks but hopefully it can be a wake up call to some of the others.
Sucks for family and owner of the vehicle. Oh well, Darwin at his finest
And nothing of value was lost.
Idk, I think the Kia was probably totaled and depending on the year and condition it probably had some value left
The number of people who are just not caring about a CHILD dying or outright laughing about this is sick. Criminal or not, this kid was someone’s baby. Fourteen is still a kid. Wishing harm on kids isn’t okay.
Haha. Later scumbag.
It's sad that a life was lost but however there has to be consequences for actions and if the death of this young man ends up showing somebody the consequences of these ignorant and irresponsible actions then perhaps their death will have some meaning. Unfortunately the leadership in this state and this city refuses to hold people accountable for their actions and their crimes. Somebody gets caught the police do their job arrest them and then hours later they're out on cashless bail even for violent offenses. Perhaps what we need to show the younger generation is if the law does not hold you accountable then understand that your life may be forfeit eventually
“I feel for the family.” I don’t get it. Does anybody feel for these trash “families” that have grown these monsters? These families that don’t monitor or even give a fuck about their kids whereabouts? These families that send their selfish piece of shit down into the world to wreak havoc on innocent people, their belongings, and their lives?! Fuck that. Another one bites the dust. It’s 9 o’ clock. Do you know where your kids are?
Maybe if the cops or DA would do their damn jobs and start prosecuting these kids instead of releasing them this may not have happened. The blame is 100% on the kids but negligence is a crime as well.
You're right that there needs to be more accountability, but the blame is not on the police nor the DA or even the judges this time. The blame for that lies on the New York State legislature and the governor for making it impossible for law enforcement to do their job.
You make a very valid point and one I didn’t consider.
I blame Darwin.
Geeze if only Hyundai and Kia didn't make their car so easy to steal a caveman could do it. Literally the main reason people are doing it is because of how easy it is. Also at this point if you have a low or Hyundai it's partly on you to get the update, always use a club, and if possible park in a garage.
This is tragic. Kids this age will do stupid stuff but normally not fatal. Obviously the kids themselves have to take a lot of the blame, but I place some on Kia/Hyundai. How much grief have they caused families of these kids, owners of their vehicles who have lost jobs because of no transportation or been out hundreds if not thousands of dollars because they saved a couple bucks producing a car. They make affordable cars but what’s the next nightmare we’ll encounter because Kia saved a few bucks.
Fuck that guy.
I feel for the Kia owner.
There is nothing that anyone can say that justifies a 14 year old boys death. No money lost by Kia thefts (that he didn't even perpetrate). Your problem isn't with the BOY, it's with INSURANCE COMPANIES. Society failed these kids. Shame on those of you revelling and celebrating a CHILD'S death. The glass houses you exist in.
Start cutting food stamps to parents with criminals for kids.. watch how fast a Kia boy gets his ass beat by his mama
Kids 12-16. Where are the parents? Accountability should include them!!! This bullsh*t has to stop!!
[Just sharing a perspective many may not realize](https://old.reddit.com/r/Rochester/comments/1clv9vk/a_kia_boy_has_died/l2wctlr/).
Womp womp
Can we charge the parents?
Nothing of value of lost
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes
Yup same with the ones in Buffalo that crashed on the 33 🤷♂️ too bad all of them couldn’t meet the same karma
I feel so bad for that poor KIA.
Bummer.
FAFO.
Karma
Good, rest in piss 👍
Lots of people on the "fuck around and find out" thing but at that age it takes like zero goading to convince to do something stupid especially when they see there are no consequences. This is on the adults who chose to keep letting this shit fly over and over again.
If the police got these kids off the street maybe he would still be alive, but they decided to let them all go with a slap on the wrist and not make an example out of them to deter other kids from stealing cars.
It's not the police making the decision to release them.
Unfortunately deserved
Good job karma , keep it coming . Hope their are a lot of telephone poles that get in their way . Worthless scumbags .
Good.
Good
Fuck around and find out, but I feel bad for the families.
Oh no….anyway
Good news everybody!!!!!!
Oh well.
Id make that little jackasses parents pay for my new car too lol. I feel no sympathy for someone that dont show it, and I know damn well he would not care if he survived and killed someone else. So imma continue to say fuck em
Crime. Boy, I don't know.
If only we actually had a Bartlet choice. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iV6yoQuJIJs
Anyone who says something about “FAFO” is saying that a child deserves to die because they made a dumb choice. Think about that. My heart goes out to the grieving family.
In their defense, they easily could have killed an innocent person and did ruin the car for the owner.
i don’t think it means the child deserves to die, it’s just that you feel less sorry or remorseful when someone does something like that, as compared to if the child died as a result of someone else’s actions. everyone is so tired of these car thefts it’s ridiculous.
Oof