– 16-year-old charged in Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting
– Family court case against teenager in Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A ruling by a Jackson County judge on Wednesday decided that a 16-year-old boy accused of firing a gun at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally in February will not be prosecuted as an adult. The decision was made after Jackson County Family Court Administrative Judge Jennifer Phillips reviewed evidence presented by the boy’s attorney and the Jackson County Juvenile Officer, who sought to have the case transferred out of family court.
The Office of the Juvenile Officer stated in a news release on Thursday that “After hearing the evidence that was presented by the Jackson County Juvenile Officer and the juvenile’s attorneys relating to certification, (Phillips) determined the juvenile was a proper subject to be dealt with under the provisions of the Missouri juvenile justice system. As such, the court did not certify the juvenile to stand trial as an adult, and the matter will continue to be heard in the Jackson County Family Court.”
The boy, identified as A.M., faced charges of unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest following the shooting incident. He was one of three juveniles charged in connection with the violence that occurred at the rally.
Factors considered in the decision
Under state law, judges must consider various factors when deciding whether to transfer a juvenile case to general jurisdiction court. These factors include the severity of the alleged offense, the level of violence involved, whether the offense is part of a pattern, as well as the age and history of the child.
Testimony in A.M.’s certification hearing spanned across two days in April and May, with input from professionals, family members, and law enforcement officials. The incident at the Chiefs rally resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to several others, including children.
According to A.M.’s attorney, Yashwanth Manjunath, the teenager was not the instigator in the situation but rather responded after another individual, Lyndell Mays, fired shots, prompting A.M. to also discharge his weapon. Manjunath described A.M. as a young individual who made a mistake and requires guidance.
Arguments presented during the hearing
During the closing arguments, Monica Penrose, representing the Jackson County Juvenile Officer, contended that A.M.’s decision to carry and use a firearm was an adult choice. She highlighted that A.M. had engaged in the confrontation that led to the shooting, and after the initial exchange of gunfire, he continued to shoot at Mays, who was incapacitated and no longer a threat.
A certification hearing for another juvenile involved in the rally shooting is scheduled to begin on July 25, while a third teenager faces gun-related charges that do not meet the criteria for adult prosecution.
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– Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting charges
– Family court case against 16-year-old.
