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Michael Connor Verkerke, left, and Jamarion Lawhorn, right.

(Courtesy photo)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A 12-year-old boy accused of stabbing to death another child on a playground, appears to be a "one in a million" offender, says a criminal justice expert at Grand Valley State University.

“Extreme violence in this age group is exceedingly rare,” said Christopher Kierkus, an associate professor at GVSU. “Violent offending among juveniles doesn’t usually peak until ages 16 to 17.

“The fact that this attack appears unprovoked makes it extremely rare even among the extremely rare.”

Kierkus discussed in an email interview the factors involved in violent juvenile offenders. However, he did not have specific knowledge about Jamarion Lawhorn, the boy accused of fatally stabbing Michael Connor Verkerke, 9, on Monday, Aug. 4, at a mobile home park playground in Kentwood. Lawhorn faces an open murder charge.

In the past 20 years, there has been a downward trend in violence by juveniles - meaning it is becoming "even more rare," Kierkus said.

He said children who commit violent crimes at a young age often fall into a group that Duke University psychologist Terrie Moffitt has termed “life-course persistent offenders,” and they differ from “adolescence-limited” juvenile delinquents.

Children who are LCP offenders usually suffer from a combination of psychosocial factors that make them high-risk, such as being victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse; being severely neglected; and being raised in severely unstable families; as well as psychological problems such as aggression and impulsiveness.

However, Kierkus said most kids in this category would be expected to lash out against an abusive parent, romantic rival or rival gang member - or to bully another child.

If a child attacks someone he doesn't know - which is how police portrayed Monday night's stabbing - Kierkus said “That makes me think a more serious problem like psychosis or psychopathy may be present.”

“People will often write, ‘This kid just snapped,’ That’s usually not accurate,” he added. Often, there is a pattern of violent behavior preceding such a lethal act. There may not be a court record because minor acts of violence in children younger than 12 often are handled informally, he said.

The chances of rehabilitating a young, violent offender are low but not impossible, he said. He predicted long-term institutionalization, as well as the right medication and counseling, likely would be required.

Kierkus added that he agreed with the decision to charge Jamarion Lawhorn as an adult.

“Protection of others should be the paramount consideration here,” he said.

Sue Thoms covers health care for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at sthoms1@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.