GTA publisher Take-Two responds to further claims of game-related violence after shooting

Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two has issued a statement following fresh claims surrounding the link between games and violent acts. It comes as the shooting of an 87-year-old Louisiana at the hands of an eight-year-old was pinned on GTA 4.

The statement was issued to CNN after the finger was pointed at GTA 4 and reads, "Ascribing a connection to entertainment--a theory that has been disproven repeatedly by multiple independent studies--both minimizes this moment and sidesteps the real issues at hand."

It followed a statement from the local sheriff department that said of the shooting, "Although a motive for the shooting is unknown at this time, investigators have learned that the juvenile suspect was playing a video game on the Play Station III--Grand Theft Auto IV--a realistic game that has been associated with encouraging violence and awards points to players for killing people, just minutes before the homicide occurred."

The child is exempt from charges under Louisiana law, which states no one under the age of ten can be charged with criminal responsibility.

We'll have more as it happens.

Via Gamespot.