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He's only 9, but he really wanted to get to Dallas
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 18, 2007
LAKEWOOD, Wash. - A 9-year-old boy with a history of stealing cars sneaked onto a plane bound for Texas, getting caught after flubbing an airport connection, officials said. Semaj Booker, unhappy after his family had recently moved from Dallas, apparently found a Southwest Airlines boarding card and made it through security Monday, hopping two flights to get to San Antonio, Texas. Airline employees stopped Semaj from boarding a flight to Dallas when he couldn't explain why he didn't have a boarding pass. "The only thing I have to offer on that is that we're looking into it," Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said. The fourth-grader remained Wednesday in juvenile custody in San Antonio. He had been trying to get to his grandfather in Dallas, where he used to live. His odyssey began Sunday when he stole a car outside a neighbor's house. Police pursued Semaj at speeds up to 90 mph until the engine blew. It was the third car Semaj has stolen in the past month. His mother, Sakinah Booker, said she believes he learned to drive from playing video games on a PlayStation.
[Last modified January 18, 2007, 00:41:51]
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by Vicki
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01/19/07 02:01 PM
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What everyone is ignoring is the cry for help from the child and the mother. She has told local officials she cannot control him but they would not take him because they know the truth; he is too brilliant and too poor in America
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by Monica
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01/18/07 05:04 PM
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He must not get punished enough since this is the 3rd car he's stolen in a month! Someone needs to put their foot down! A 9 year old stealing cars and hopping planes? I didn't notice mention of DCF visiting. Looks like they need to.
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by tedd
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01/18/07 12:22 PM
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You know he got a whoopin' when he got home. (hopefully)
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News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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