A judge on Monday bound over to adult court a 15-year-old boy accused to trying kill another teen by shooting him at a central Indiana middle school just minutes after posting "today is the day" on his Facebook page.
Michael Phelps, bound by shackles, was led from Morgan Superior Court by sheriff's deputies as members of his family hugged each other and his grim-faced mother left his side and headed for the exits without saying a word.
Phelps was expected to face six felony charges including attempted murder and aggravated battery in the March 25 shooting of 15-year-old Chance Jackson at Martinsville West Middle School, about 30 miles south of Indianapolis.
"The evidence presented would indicate to a reasonable person that is was a cold, calculated and planned act of violence with intent to kill," Morgan Superior Court Judge Christopher Burnham said, reading his 10-page ruling.
Defense attorney Steven Litz had argued that Phelps, who will turn 16 on May 5, should be tried as a juvenile. Litz contended that the teen had a troubled childhood and would emerge from prison far worse than when he entered if convicted as an adult. |
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