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HUNTSVILLE, AL -
There was a preliminary hearing Monday at the Neaves-Davis Center for Children in Huntsville, where the accused shooter, a ninth grade student, is being detained at the juvenile center. He's accused of shooting another student on Friday at Discovery Middle School.
The victim, Todd Brown, died later that day at Huntsville Hospital.
We had expected to learn whether or not the suspect would be tried as a juvenile or an adult, but the investigator said they scheduled another hearing for February 17. It's presumed they will decide his status at that time.
Police said the suspect is 14 years old.
WHNT NEWS 19 Legal Analyst Harvey Morris said if the teen were older, things could be different.
"If the individual is age 16, and had been charged with a Class A Felony, then they can be directly charged as an adult," Morris said.
Morris said the juvenile judge will probably decide quickly about his status, based on the profound impact this incident has had on the community. The February 17 hearing is called a certification hearing.
"In that certification hearing, you can present anything that you would like on either side," Morris said. "Primarily, the District Attorney's Office, they look at two things: One, the type of crime that the juvenile is being accused, and does that juvenile have a previous juvenile record?"
He said they look at those things carefully when deciding whether to try a juvenile as an adult.
Huntsville Attorney Henri McDaniel said it's not unusual for hearings like this to be postponed. She said Monday's hearing was likely delayed at the request of the suspect's attorney.
The victim, Todd Brown, died later that day at Huntsville Hospital.
We had expected to learn whether or not the suspect would be tried as a juvenile or an adult, but the investigator said they scheduled another hearing for February 17. It's presumed they will decide his status at that time.
Police said the suspect is 14 years old.
WHNT NEWS 19 Legal Analyst Harvey Morris said if the teen were older, things could be different.
"If the individual is age 16, and had been charged with a Class A Felony, then they can be directly charged as an adult," Morris said.
Morris said the juvenile judge will probably decide quickly about his status, based on the profound impact this incident has had on the community. The February 17 hearing is called a certification hearing.
"In that certification hearing, you can present anything that you would like on either side," Morris said. "Primarily, the District Attorney's Office, they look at two things: One, the type of crime that the juvenile is being accused, and does that juvenile have a previous juvenile record?"
He said they look at those things carefully when deciding whether to try a juvenile as an adult.
Huntsville Attorney Henri McDaniel said it's not unusual for hearings like this to be postponed. She said Monday's hearing was likely delayed at the request of the suspect's attorney.
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