DA says bicycle robbery killing an ‘abhorrent’ adult crime
ERIE (AP) – A prosecutor said an Erie boy who was 14 when he allegedly shot and killed an 18-year-old while trying to steal his bike in July deserves to be tried as an adult for his “abhorrent” crime.
Erie County First Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz makes that argument in a document filed Tuesday in the case of the suspect, who is now 15.
The boy’s defense attorney has argued he should be tried in juvenile court, where any probation or incarceration would end when he’s 21. But Hirz says the suspect has a long record showing past juvenile court intervention has failed and should face first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence, in adult court.
The Erie Times-News said the document filed Tuesday sums up arguments Hirz made at a hearing Dec. 14, at which the defense also presented its case.