NationStates Jolt Archive

After stealing his third car in a month and leading police on an 80mph chase that ended when he crashed into a tree, nine-year-old Semaj Booker went one better.


The next morning he sneaked on to a bus, conned his way on to a 1,700-mile (2,750km) flight and was stopped only when he tried to talk his way on to a second aircraft. He was fleeing his gritty Seattle suburb to join his grandfather in Texas.

His adventures provoked uproar among politicians, furious that he had been able to make a mockery of American airport security, supposedly improved at a cost of billions of dollars to the inconvenience of most passengers.

But there was one approving voice: his mother. After Semaj was revealed as America’s unofficial heavyweight champion at playing truant — this was the tenth time that he had tried to run away — Sakinah Booker declared that she was proud of her son.

“He just showed me that ‘Mom, I’m going to achieve anything I want to do. I’m going to just do it.’ So he did it, from driving a car to getting on an airplane,” the single mother of four said.

Mrs Booker said that her son hated living in Lakeland, Seattle. He was scared of a sex offender who lived near by and had gone in search of a father figure.

She said that Semaj had learnt how to drive by playing video games. On Sunday, he stole a neighbour’s car after it had been left in the driveway with the engine running. The police chase that ensued ended only after he blew the engine and hit a tree. He refused to get out of the car and police had to break the window to reach him.

The next morning, Semaj was off again. This time he sneaked on to a bus for the 30-minute drive to Seattle-Tacoma airport. His plan was to reach Dallas, where his grandfather lives.

After overhearing a Southwest airlines tannoy announcement asking a passenger to go to the information desk, he assumed the passenger’s name and persuaded staff that he had lost his boarding pass. He said that his mother was waiting for him in the departure lounge.

Semaj was then flown to San Antonio, Texas, via Phoenix. But when he tried a similar ruse to board a flight to Dallas, the name he gave matched none of the passengers and the game was up.

“We spend billions of dollars inconveniencing the American public and making things safe — we think,” George Behan, a spokesman for Semaj’s local congressman, Norm Dicks, said. “Then a nine-year-old kid comes walking through.”

The federal Transportation Security Administration is investigating how Semaj managed to stroll on to the flight. Under US law, children under 16 do not need identification to board a flight, a loophole that he successfully exploited.

Semaj, who is back home, has been charged with taking a car and leading police on a chase. His mother is considering suing Southwest Airlines.

Police confirmed that a sex offender was living in the area, but there had been no reports of any contact with the boy.

A spokesman for the airline said: “The young man’s information matched a paid, ticket-less reservation for the flight. Based on the information he gave us, he was issued with a boarding pass.”

So, he stole three cars (learned how to drive from video games) conned his way onto a plane without a boarding pass or identification, and here's the kicker... his mom's proud of him.

So, I guess there are a number of questions here.

Is there a problem with airport security? (could a child soldier board a plane in the same way?)
What punishment, if any, should the kid recieve?
Should he be allowed to remain with his mother, who is evidently unable or unwilling to control him?
And are any of you proud of him as well?

Personally, I think the kid should get a slap on the wrist and get sent to live with the grandfather, but once he gets a job, he should be required to pay for the neighbors car damages.

Airlines would appear to need to increase security somehow, before they're inundated with hordes of underage con men. The fact that the kid more or less harmlessly pointed this out goes a long way towards why I feel any punishment should be lenient.

Edit: Link, duh. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2566634,00.html)

I say shoot the kid.

I'd be proud if I had a kid like that. He's a friggin' genius whose talents are obviously underestimated and is probably not challenged by his school work.

And he's only nine years old. 9!

Quite probably a genius, but must be eliminated since he's clearly an EVIL genius. Next thing we know he'll hitch a ride on the space shuttle and set up his moon base.

Send him to Guantanamo for fucking with the system. Then interrogate him using Calculus questions!

Hahahaha! That's great! What a smart kid! Sure, I know, he broke the law, but, it serves security right! They ought to be less concerned with 'terrorists' than they are.

Why was he returned to his mother and not immediately put in juvenile detention or foster care? Whe does his mother even think she should sue the airline (yes, they are inept, as are the airport security people, but, if anything, they should be suing her for not keeping her son under control). Who's going to pay for the neighbor's car - proud mama? Why on earh should she be proud of the little criminal? This is symptomatic of the problems in this country - a little juvenile delinquent gets off scott-free and his proud mother thinks she can sue.

It's good to see that at least some Americans still have the spirit! Be proud of that 9-year-old. :D

http://www.tobypress.com/covers/HuckFinn_b.jpg

so in what sense has a security system that lets an unarmed nine year old on a plane a failure?

Well, to begin with, they let someone on the plane who hadn't purchased a ticket, or seat, or however they define it nowadays. So, from a financial point of view, they failed.

Second, yes, it was a nine year old, but under the same system, a fifteen year old, or someone who looks fifteen, could hypothetically board the same way.

so in what sense has a security system that lets an unarmed nine year old on a plane a failure?

Because under the IATA regulations you (as a passenger) cannot board a plane without a boarding pass.

So, he stole three cars (learned how to drive from video games) conned his way onto a plane without a boarding pass or identification, and here's the kicker... his mom's proud of him.

So, I guess there are a number of questions here.

Is there a problem with airport security? (could a child soldier board a plane in the same way?)
What punishment, if any, should the kid recieve?
Should he be allowed to remain with his mother, who is evidently unable or unwilling to control him?
And are any of you proud of him as well?

Personally, I think the kid should get a slap on the wrist and get sent to live with the grandfather, but once he gets a job, he should be required to pay for the neighbors car damages.

Airlines would appear to need to increase security somehow, before they're inundated with hordes of underage con men. The fact that the kid more or less harmlessly pointed this out goes a long way towards why I feel any punishment should be lenient.

The child should definitely be taken away from a parent who refuses to control him, approves of actions that could have killed him and any number of other people not involved in his issues, and refuses to get the kid the emotional and mental help he obviously needs. This will be the same mother screaming that her child was murdered by police or discriminated against when he is sent to prison for continuing these escapades when he's no longer so cute.

Someone who runs away nine times at age nine is screaming for help, and what do we do? focus on airport security and act like it's so cute.

"He has been charged in Lakewood with two felonies connected to the high-speed, stolen-car chase. "

Yeah. Wonderful. He's the unsung hero of the ages.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/18/AR2007011801681.html

Because under the IATA regulations you (as a passenger) cannot board a plane without a boarding pass.

He did have one. He conned a reservations clerk into giving it him by providing a name he'd just heard called.

The child should definitely be taken away from a parent who refuses to control him, approves of actions that could have killed him and any number of other people not involved in his issues, and refuses to get the kid the emotional and mental help he obviously needs.

Someone who runs away three times at nine is screaming for help, and what do we do? focus on airport security and act like it's so cute.

I blame the parent for being such a fuckwit as to turn the name James backwards and declare it a name.

Well, according to the mother, it was because of a sex offender living in the area that he continually ran away. No proof that that's not her just taking advantage of the fact that a sex offender lives in the area to cover for her own bad parenting, of course, but it still bears consideration.

Incidentally, thanks for the explanation of the name. I was wondering what was up with that. Didn't think to look at it backwards though...

He did have one. He conned a reservations clerk into giving it him by providing a name he'd just heard called.

Ok...I missed that....I wonder how he did that though because boarding cards are linked to individual tickets...I suspect Mr Ticket Counter guy is now on the dole...

Quite probably a genius, but must be eliminated since he's clearly an EVIL genius. Next thing we know he'll hitch a ride on the space shuttle and set up his moon base.
And this is exactly why he should be set free and given financial backing by a shadowy organization and/or country: the world needs more super-villains.

Quite probably a genius, but must be eliminated since he's clearly an EVIL genius. Next thing we know he'll hitch a ride on the space shuttle and set up his moon base.

lol, gold.

Well, according to the mother, it was because of a sex offender living in the area that he continually ran away. No proof that that's not her just taking advantage of the fact that a sex offender lives in the area to cover for her own bad parenting, of course, but it still bears consideration.

Incidentally, thanks for the explanation of the name. I was wondering what was up with that. Didn't think to look at it backwards though...

Well, obviously the answer to having a sex offender in the area is to never know where your kid is.

The mother fails at basic parenting.

I'm not saying she should move -- hell, it's expensive and not everyone has the wherewithal to pull up stakes and go just like that. But allowing her troubled kid to disappear continually and then PRAISE HIM for it and threaten to sue others because her child steals, lies, runs away, et cetera shows me this woman should not raise kids, period.

Well, obviously the answer to having a sex offender in the area is to never know where your kid is.

The mother fails at basic parenting.

I'm not saying she should move -- hell, it's expensive and not everyone has the wherewithal to pull up stakes and go just like that. But allowing her troubled kid to disappear continually and then PRAISE HIM for it and threaten to sue others because her child steals, lies, runs away, et cetera shows me this woman should not raise kids, period.

Bingo! 100% correct.

All I have to say is, if my mother named me james fuckin' BACKWARDS, I would run away too.

No, seriously, look. His name is Semaj. How messed up is that?

I bet that we will hear from this kid again. Definately an example of a great achiever.

* Nods. *

After overhearing a Southwest airlines tannoy announcement asking a passenger to go to the information desk, he assumed the passenger’s name and persuaded staff that he had lost his boarding pass. He said that his mother was waiting for him in the departure lounge.
regardless of what you think of the situation, the kid and his mum, ya'all gotta admit that's damn intelligent and crafty of the little tike. I'm impressed.

Shame about the boy's name.
Semaj.
Sounds like a euphanism for a particular male bodily fluid discharge.
"Damn! I got semaj all over the carpet, curtains, sofa and the cat while watching Baywatch reruns. Mum's gonna have a fit!"

So, he stole three cars (learned how to drive from video games) conned his way onto a plane without a boarding pass or identification, and here's the kicker... his mom's proud of him.

So, I guess there are a number of questions here.

Is there a problem with airport security? (could a child soldier board a plane in the same way?)
What punishment, if any, should the kid recieve?
Should he be allowed to remain with his mother, who is evidently unable or unwilling to control him?
And are any of you proud of him as well?

Personally, I think the kid should get a slap on the wrist and get sent to live with the grandfather, but once he gets a job, he should be required to pay for the neighbors car damages.

Airlines would appear to need to increase security somehow, before they're inundated with hordes of underage con men. The fact that the kid more or less harmlessly pointed this out goes a long way towards why I feel any punishment should be lenient.

Edit: Link, duh. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2566634,00.html)

He should be sent to juvenile hall, but when he's released, he should go to his grandfather. He deserves something, and he should have some counseling to help him deal with having a sex offender nearby.

10 Years Later:

"Man Blows Up Moon! Mother Proud."

*snip*

Well, what good did that ol' Moon ever do?

Well, what good did that ol' Moon ever do?

Tides, seasons, calendars.......

No good at all.

Quite probably a genius, but must be eliminated since he's clearly an EVIL genius. Next thing we know he'll hitch a ride on the space shuttle and set up his moon base.

As long as he doesn't join SMERSH or SPECTRE. MI6 is running out of James Bonds. I hope Daniel Craig will be up to the job...

Note to self: Implant tracking devices in my children. :)

This kid should be sent to juvenile detention or something. His mom is a total idiot. Her son's run away 10 times, stolen three cars, conned airport security, and hopped on an airplane to God knows where.... This kid is smart, but not the good kind of smart. And he did it just to get away from a child molester? Either that kid's really scared or there's something else going on.

His mother does fail at basic parenting. She is unwilling to control her son when there is a known sex offender in her area, and when he's stolen 3 cars and tried to run away 10 times.

Send him to Guantanamo for fucking with the system. Then interrogate him using Calculus questions!
That's nice, TVS.....admittedly a clever kid though. I think I did hear of this kid once before (or maybe a similar incident, but I do know it was involving a video game store and a small kid involving an automobile), pretty crafty kid.

Tides, seasons, calendars.......

No good at all.
If it weren't for calendars there would be no reason for me not to believe that it was perpetually Sunday. Therefore, the moon is indirectly responsible for every morning that I have to wake up in order to go to work or classes, so fuck the moon.

Maybe he'll end up working for the FBI or in prison or dead

Maybe he'll end up working for the FBI or in prison or dead

Well, that pretty much covers all the options. I'm hoping for political leader, myself. Be interesting.

Ok...I missed that....I wonder how he did that though because boarding cards are linked to individual tickets...I suspect Mr Ticket Counter guy is now on the dole...Read the article much? :p I think it said something that he waited and listened to the tannoy until an announcement was made about a passenger who should come to the ticket desk or something like that. He goes to the desk, claims he's that person, they can't check his identity as he's only 9 (no credit cards, driver's licences, etc), nor does he have a passport as it's only an internal flight and he isn't required to have a passport for an internal flight. He claims he got separated from his mother and they give him a boarding pass and send him on through.

The kid's clever, no doubt about that. Prosecuting him for two felonies nad sending him to juevenille prison will not solve any problems. He needs to be in a situation where he is emotionally supported (what his mother claims he was doing - going to his grandfather in Texas, the only male figure in his life), and mentally and physically challenged.

Sending a 9 year old to jail... some of the peope on this board are crazy.

His mother is considering suing Southwest Airlines.

What. The. Hell. Come on people. What's with wanting to sue at the drop of a hat? It's ridiculous--they aren't satisfied with working for money or something so they blow some trivial and ridiculous charge egregiously out of proportion so they can become insta-millionaires? Something you just throw into the microwave and *poof* you've got a lawsuit? Courtroom Easy-Mac (TM)? What a bunch of crap. /endrant

However, that kid's a genius. I say let him go; maybe let him live with his grandfather, or get rid of the sex offender he's so worries about. I say we should admit being duped and have a little laugh at our own folly, and take steps to correct the problem.

If it weren't for calendars there would be no reason for me not to believe that it was perpetually Sunday. Therefore, the moon is indirectly responsible for every morning that I have to wake up in order to go to work or classes, so fuck the moon.

Yes, and seasons? Wtf? Nothing really flabbergasting about spring, where i come from summer is just one big cloud of mosquitoes, autumn is boring and winter is too damn cold.

.... and theres nothing that you can't gripe about. :p

That kid is going to be going places. Eventually.

Note to self: Implant tracking devices in my children. :)
"Look, there's something moving in here and it ain't us!
Reading's off the charts, man!
They're all around us, man!
What the hell?"

Always check the ceiling, LG. They will come through the ceiling!!!

"Look, there's something moving in here and it ain't us!
Reading's off the charts, man!
They're all around us, man!
What the hell?"

Always check the ceiling, LG. They will come through the ceiling!!!

One will appear in the door way, while everyone aims their tasers at him the others will burst through the ceiling and/or floor.


"Dear God he's got a pie! Get down!"

Well, obviously the answer to having a sex offender in the area is to never know where your kid is.

The mother fails at basic parenting.

I'm not saying she should move -- hell, it's expensive and not everyone has the wherewithal to pull up stakes and go just like that. But allowing her troubled kid to disappear continually and then PRAISE HIM for it and threaten to sue others because her child steals, lies, runs away, et cetera shows me this woman should not raise kids, period.
Agreed.

as for the supposed breach in security... unless you want the airlines to have your picture, fingerprints and other data stored when you pick up your ticket/boarding pass, having a child loose their pass is plausible (unless you also want to stop the nonsense of having unaccompanied minors fly.)

Talented kid. Someone's going to get their hands on him, sooner or later.

I'm sure taking him away from his mother and putting him in a juvenile detention centre will work wonders. Look at most of the kids in our juvenile detention centres these days -- they grow up to deal drugs or join gangs or rape elderly women. I'm sure his mother will be proud.

Talk about a complete lack of parenting skills.

If video games can learn you to drive at nine imagine what they'll be able to teach you at 18!

If video games can learn you to drive at nine imagine what they'll be able to teach you at 18!

Among other things, they might learn you the word "teach". :p

If video games can learn you to drive at nine imagine what they'll be able to teach you at 18!

How to fly a plane? How to drive a tank? How do create a thermonuclear device in your garage? Somebody better start keeping better tabs on this kid!

How to fly a plane? How to drive a tank? How do create a thermonuclear device in your garage? Somebody better start keeping better tabs on this kid!

... a flight simulator is basically a video game. so are those tank simulators. now if he was smart enough to get onto the base and conn his way into those simulators...

How to fly a plane? How to drive a tank? How do create a thermonuclear device in your garage? Somebody better start keeping better tabs on this kid!


How to avoid typos???!!!! :eek:

"Look, there's something moving in here and it ain't us!
Reading's off the charts, man!
They're all around us, man!
What the hell?"

Always check the ceiling, LG. They will come through the ceiling!!!

Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

I'd be proud if I had a kid like that. He's a friggin' genius whose talents are obviously underestimated and is probably not challenged by his school work.

And he's only nine years old. 9!
If I was in charge of the CIA, I'd be watching this kid very closely... probably to give him a job later in life.

Mother sucks, and should pay damages to the neighbours.
Kid rocks, but needs some actual parenting.
Airlines remain incompetant and as secure as chicken-wire diapers.

Fanatical terrorist groups recruit young. The kid could have easily done a lot of damage.

If I was in charge of the CIA, I'd be watching this kid very closely... probably to give him a job later in life.

Mother sucks, and should pay damages to the neighbours.
Kid rocks, but needs some actual parenting.
Airlines remain incompetant and as secure as chicken-wire diapers.

Fanatical terrorist groups recruit young. The kid could have easily done a lot of damage.

Exactly. Well, I don't know about chicken wire diapers, an odd comparison, but somebody should definitely be keeping tabs on the kid.

Just issue the kid a passport & teach him the wonders of coke & beer. All that airline & traffic accident crap only happened 'cos he was sober enuff to move around, but not allowed to do so freely.

I say we elect this boy president. Or maybe send him to the Orbital Battle School in case the buggers come.

Okay,

1- This mother is insane.

2- If I were from the FBI, I'd DEFINETLY be keeping tabs on the boy. Moreover, I'd try to get the charges lifted so he didn't have to go to juvy, and, maybe, provide some other help.

3- This boy is a fucking genius.

Read the article much? :p I think it said something that he waited and listened to the tannoy until an announcement was made about a passenger who should come to the ticket desk or something like that. He goes to the desk, claims he's that person, they can't check his identity as he's only 9 (no credit cards, driver's licences, etc), nor does he have a passport as it's only an internal flight and he isn't required to have a passport for an internal flight. He claims he got separated from his mother and they give him a boarding pass and send him on through.

The kid's clever, no doubt about that. Prosecuting him for two felonies nad sending him to juevenille prison will not solve any problems. He needs to be in a situation where he is emotionally supported (what his mother claims he was doing - going to his grandfather in Texas, the only male figure in his life), and mentally and physically challenged.

Sending a 9 year old to jail... some of the peope on this board are crazy.

Actually I've been aware of this story for the last what...2 or 3 days...

My point still stands...the check in guy fucked it...

I agree with you on the second paragraph...I don't think he is a genius but he definitely clever...and he does need a stable environment...and his mom needs a real hard talking to...silly bint!

Lot of out of control children in airports lately. Maybe he can team up with the three year old girl who delayed a plane because she was having a tantrum.

Out of control parents=out of control children.

I don't get why he needed to sneak onto the bus. Did he not have the fare? :confused: Other than that, that's pretty kickass. For a 9 year old. Most 9 year olds would be completely lost in an airport. Hell, most adults are. :D

More news!


He has apparently tried to run away again, and apparently blew up the people trying to stop him with the power of his mind.