In 1999, 13-year old Nathaniel Abraham became the youngest person ever to be tried as an adult for first degree murder in the United States. On October 29, 1997, Abraham, age 11, after boasting to his girlfriend that he wanted to shoot somebody, stole a gun and did just that. His victim, 18-year old carpenter Ronnie Greene Jr., had never even met Abraham. Greene was found dead on the night in question of a single bullet wound to the head outside of a convenience store near Abraham's home. Abraham is now in the middle of a national issue, whether juveniles should be held accountable for violent crimes.
Abraham grew up in a poverty-stricken section of Pontiac, Michigan. His father disappeared shortly after his birth and Abraham went to live with neighbors of his single mother, Gloria Abraham. He later joined his mother and three siblings in their home, but early on showed signs of trouble and frequently violent behavior. He was expelled from three schools in two years and in 1994 was tested for a learning disability and diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and severe emotional damage. He was also found to function mentally at a level three or four years younger than his actual age, which was verified by court psychologists during his trial. Abraham's mother sought help from authorities on numerous occasions, but her requests for assistance were never followed up on and Abraham "fell through the cracks."
On November 16, 1999, Abraham was convicted, as an adult, of second degree murder, re-igniting the international debate of what to do with juvenile offenders. The NAACP and Amnesty International have officially labeled Nathaniel Abraham a victim of the United States social systems, blaming the government for not assisting Abraham early on and questioning whether a child could even be capable of understanding such a crime.
Climb to Fame
Youngest person (13 years old) to be tried as an adult of First Degree Murder.
Affiliations
NAACP - claim him as official "victim" of U.S. Government
Amnesty International - Poster Child
I am so glad that Nathaniel has his day of release coming in the very near future. Let's be there for support for him. We are all sinners saved by grace in God's eyes. He is no less than us in God's eyes if you open your bible and read so.
I believe with all my heart that God has a plan for this young man. Now if he chooses to follow that plan, it will all be up to Nathaniel. Surely he could use prayers on his behalf. Let's let the young man prove himself and not be hard on him. After all...he has served his punishment to fulfill the laws of the land that were handed down to him. Let's give him a clean slate and welcome him back to society with LOVING, FORGIVING open arms!!! This may sound hard to some, but God commands us to forgive one another.
Nathaniel...I am rooting on you, praying for you and hope you let the Lord guide your life. Give your whole heart and soul over to Him and He will bless your life!!
This story is so far off. He was never convicted of anything as an adult. He was convicted of second degree murder as a juvenile.
WHY IS NO ONE COMMENTING ON HIM BEING ARRESTED WITH 254 ECTASY PILLS IN MAY. HE IS OWN ENEMY. BUSTED IN PONITAC WHERE HE SAID HE WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO. WHAT A JOKE. I HOPE THEY PUT HIM IN THE BIG HOUSE AND LOSE THE KEY...
What about Ronnie Lee Greene? I cant seem to find a picture of him anywhere. What is he the poster child of?
This is a shame...Nate should be locked up for life.
Ronnie Greene got a life sentence!! and he was a hard woring, law abiding taxpayer.
Nate, on the other hand....well I don't think we need to go down that ugly road.\
Oakland county court system....Hang your head in shame.
I do not feel any sympathy for him because when he said that he wanted to kill someone he knew then what he was doing because he went and got what he needed to succeed in killing some one and that was a gun. The system was to easy on him. To take a life from some one especially someone you dont even know. The punishment should fit the crime he got off too easy. To brag and boast about taking a life he knew what was going on. many of us grow up in poverty stricken neighborhoods it made us want to go out work hard and make life better not take alife. One thing i know that is fact!!!! you reap what you sow!!! no way around it his day will come.
Well that didn't take long. I hear Nate is back in jail for armed robbery.
Nate is still on the outs doing good. I knew he would make it. Im so happy he's doing good. He is a good person. No he did not get locked back up for armed robbery.
Nate I LOVE YOU LIKE A FAT KID LOVES CAKE!!! MISS YOU!!
Keep your head up..
He is somewhat of a celebrity now isn't he? My only opinion on this is I hope he is rehabilitated. But for a person to essentially "grow up" in a prison system, be it adult or child, there are both lessons he has learned and won't learn. Taking responsibility and realizing that what he did wrong would be the first step in being rehabilitated.
I doubt that will ever happen
so i wonder how he is doing
I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD LEAVE HIM ALONG AND QUIT PRAYING ON HIS DOWN FALL. ITS CALLED MINE YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
I don't know why everyone is so hard on him. He is a very intelligent man. I don't understand why people is putting false information out on the man. He is actually fine and trying to do things to maintain. People in the world should mine their own business and let that man be. He has not went back to jail since he has been out. The man is doing pefectly fine. Nate keep the positive role that you are on and don't let any of these hater's bring you down. Do your thang!! God forgive's everyone! No one is perfect!
I am a soldier deployed to Iraq. I am currently taking classes in the Juvenile Justice Field. My class was told to research a juvenile case and report back on the juvenile sentencing guidelines for our state. I ran across Nathaniel's case and read every article concerning him. My first thought was that the juvenile system were trying to make an example out of this poor kid. I also sympathized with his situation. After running across several articles and reports that suggest that Nathaniel had not rehabilitated, I begin to see a different light to things concerning our juvenile justice system. The reports suggest that he refuses to accept responsibility, not just for the murder that he committed but for anything concerning his behavior during his short stay at the juvenile facility. In my opinion, he should have remained confined until he was completely rehabilitated. And then, he should have been released with some kind of supervisory program for several years to prove himself. A blended sentence would have been the appropriate sentecne in this case. From the reports and articles that I have read concerning Nathaniel, he should have been transitioned from the juvenile system to the adult criminal justice system. There was definitley no justice served regarding this case. That's not hating, that's keeping it real.
i wish nate makes the best of the rest of his life. yes what he did was wrong and if we are honest alot of us have done things that were wrong when we were children. Children need so many things to grow true and strong. he obviously had/has emotional and learning problems My oldest son had issues and he was emotionally younger than his age. he often did things that he really did not think through. He still does today at age 23. Some of this is genetic and some due to parenting issues. Time we took responsibility. As black parents we are often very hard on our kids. Desensitising them by beatings and tough love. Not blaming his mother but I dont think criminals are born they are made.
I believe he didnt planned to kill ronnie green, I believe he was just playing with the gun an he did it by mistake. everyone makes mistakes if all those that dont agree then you cant be human! I think that the law was too hard on him. I believe he should have been punish for his mistake,but not what they threw at him!!! I knew nathaniel an his brother an nathaniel was not a killer by choice just by accident. hold your head up nate and make all those people who doubt you look stupid because you no your not what they say you are....your friend Tootsie
Noone saying anything anymore bout save this kid, they were too hard, haha look at him now, hes gone..
This story is so wrong. he did not steal a gun, he found an old bent up gun in the trash can. I really hate that uninformed people can write stories on the internet and post them as truth. i'm going to write to the blogger of this site, and ask that they remove this story.
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