Prosecutors Not Sure Yet If Boy Accused Of Murder Will Face Adult Charges

Source: Photo: (gorodenkoff/getty images)

FRANKLIN, Ind. — A teenage boy is being charged with murder and criminal recklessness in the fatal shooting of another teenage boy in Greenwood from earlier this month. It’s still up in the air which direction the charges may go.

Johnson County prosecutor Lance Hamner says for now they have essentially filed generic murder and criminal recklessness charges. He told Hammer and Nigel on WIBC that for now, it adds up to “juvenile delinquency if committed by an adult.”

“What that means is that we are filing both (juvenile and adult charges) to make sure that when the investigation is continued we will have both of those charges preserved,” Hamner said. “It could go to adult court, but there are a number of factors at play when you are making that decision.”

The charges stem from when a group of kids were at a home in Greenwood. James Davis, 13, was among the group playing around with a handgun. Davis ended up being shot by another 13-year-old boy who pointed the gun at Davis and pulled the trigger.

Davis ended up dying of his injuries a few days later.

Hamner said their job now is to figure out exactly what happened and which direction they want to go with the charges. He said the investigation is still ongoing. The facts of the case may lead them to simply charge the boy with criminal recklessness in juvenile court. However, the facts may also rise to the level of murder in adult court.

Hamner added that it’s been tough to have to file these charges against the boy since this is the first time he’s been in trouble with the law.

“This is just a bolt out of the blue,” Hamner said. “It’s really sad in every direction.”

Hamner could not say how long the investigation may take from this point.