The teenager accused of shooting and killing a 14-year-old boy while they were playing with guns inside a Marion Oaks residence will be charged as an adult, the state attorney’s office has announced.
The 15-year-old girl, wearing jail-issue red pants and a brown top, sat at the back of the Marion County Jail courtroom on Wednesday. She appeared via Zoom for her first appearance hearing, with County Judge LeeAnn Mackey-Barnes presiding at the courthouse.
The judge told the teen she’s being held on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child involving a firearm. The judge appointed the public defender’s office to represent her.
Assistant State Attorney Becky Fletcher told the judge the juvenile should remain behind bars because of the nature of the crime. Fletcher told the court the child has a prior felony battery charge.
Mackey-Barnes agreed with the prosecutor and ordered that the minor remain at the jail. She told the girl her lawyer could file a request for bail.
The girl’s next court date was set for late December. This will be her arraignment, where the state will formally announce what charge it plans to file.