Maybe it's a class struggle thing. Or about teaching children not to covet. Then again, it could just be about a lack of diplomacy. Whatever the moral, "Little Todd" Copeland swapped bicycles with a pal and now his daddy's dead.

Little Todd, a nine-year-old Minneapolis boy, thought nothing of it when he traded the bike his daddy had built for his friend's blue, mag-wheeled one. The other boy's father, however, was allegedly quite pissed. Little Todd's dad, Todd Copeland, was en route to talk to the man when he met another kid, who reported the situation had been rectified. Copeland went home.

Later, the other boy's father and a friend showed up at Copeland's place and punched him. Copeland and his friend gave chase but were stopped when the friend of the other father's pulled a gun. Copeland was shot in the side, neck and chest. He died before police arrived.

According to police, both Copeland and the suspect had prior assault convictions.

» Scott Saxon