MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — A 15-year-old boy charged with murder in the shooting death of a teen in Burlington will face trial as an adult.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports Skagit County Superior Court Judge Brian Stiles ruled Friday that the boy can be charged as an adult with one count of second-degree murder in the death of Angel Estrada.
Stiles wrote in his decision that the offense is a crime that the public needs heightened protection from.
Court documents say Burlington police responded the March 30 shooting after a 17-year-old girl reported her brother had shot her boyfriend.
Burlington police say Estrada was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors say the boy shot Estrada because Estrada, a member of a rival gang, was dating the boy’s sister.
The boy’s defense lawyer argued that her client should be tried in the juvenile system for potential rehabilitation opportunities.