– 16-year-old charged in Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting
– Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting family court case.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A Jackson County judge made a decision on Wednesday 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. This ruling came 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 where juvenile cases are typically handled.
The Office of the Juvenile Officer released a statement on Thursday stating, “After hearing the evidence presented by the Jackson County Juvenile Officer and the juvenile’s attorneys concerning certification, (Phillips) concluded that the juvenile was a suitable candidate to be handled under the provisions of the Missouri juvenile justice system. Therefore, the court did not certify the juvenile to stand trial as an adult, and the case will continue to be adjudicated in the Jackson County Family Court.”
The boy, referred to in court by the initials A.M., faced charges of unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest. He was one of three juveniles charged in connection with the shooting incident that occurred at the conclusion of the Chiefs rally.
Factors Considered in Certification Decision
State law outlines a set of criteria for judges to consider when determining whether to transfer a juvenile case to general jurisdiction court. These factors include the severity of the alleged offense, any violence involved, whether it was part of a pattern of offenses, the child’s age, and their prior history.
Testimony in A.M.’s certification hearing was heard over two days in April and May. Phillips listened to input from professionals who evaluated the boy and his case, as well as input from his family and law enforcement.
According to police reports, the shooting stemmed from an altercation between two groups at the rally. One woman, identified as local DJ and radio host Lisa Lopez-Galvan, lost her life, and numerous others, including children, sustained injuries.
A.M.’s attorney, Yashwanth Manjunath, argued during closing statements that A.M. was not the instigator in the incident. He maintained that A.M. fired his weapon in response to Lyndell Mays, one of the individuals later charged with murder in connection to the rally shooting, firing shots first.
Manjunath stated, “A.M. is a young individual who made an error in judgment on that particular day and requires guidance.”
However, Monica Penrose, representing the Jackson County Juvenile Officer, argued that A.M.’s decision to possess and discharge a firearm was a mature choice. She pointed out that A.M. participated in the altercation that triggered the shooting and fired shots indiscriminately at Mays, who was incapacitated and no longer a threat.
Penrose asserted, “This was not an act of self-defense.”
The certification hearing for another juvenile implicated in the shooting is scheduled to commence on July 25. A third teenager was apprehended on gun-related charges that do not meet the criteria for adult prosecution.
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– Case against 16-year-old charged in Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting
– Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting stays in family court.
