Phoenix: 

scene of crime: This is the house in St Johns where Vincent Romero's son killed him. pic/ap

The eight-year-old boy who shot dead his father in the state of Arizona last week was "almost certainly" a child abuse victim. That's what the police said yesterday.

The boy is now in jail after he reportedly confessed. But he will have to undergo psychological tests before appearing in court on two counts of murder. He even killed a lodger who was staying with them. He could be jailed for life if convicted.

Police chief Roy Melnick said, "I'm not accusing anybody of anything, but we're going to have to look at the abuse part. He's eight years old. He just doesn't decide he's going to shoot his father and his father's friend for no reason. Something led to this."