That sounds like a serious crime by the gang leaders, and less so by the hired kids.

So? Does an AK or pistol pointed in your face by a 14 year old somehow make it less deadly than if he were older?

https://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/violence-in-rio...

Stories like this aren't too uncommon. The ability to charge kids as adults can potentially prevent people from trying to side step the rules.

It's not an effective detterent becsuse the kid holding the weapon doesn't understand the consequences.

Edit: if you give a child the keys to your car and they hit someone with it, who is at fault?

Do you really think that a 14 year old is incapable of understanding that hurting someone is wrong? And that they don't understand that there will be consequences to their actions? Because I find it hard to believe.

>Edit: if you give a child the keys to your car and they hit someone with it, who is at fault?

Obviously both - you and the child.