Overview

• The unnamed suspect will face juvenile charges including attempted murder, assault and attempted second-degree robbery, with a pretrial conference set for Sept. 24.
• District Attorney Brooke Jenkins sought adult prosecution, citing the severity of the shooting and Juvenile Probation’s record with high-risk youths.
• Defense witnesses described childhood abuse, foster-care instability and rehabilitation in juvenile detention, noting the teen’s high school graduation and community college enrollment.
• Prosecutors said video and Pearsall’s interview show the suspect pointed a semiautomatic pistol during an attempted robbery, a struggle followed, and three shots were fired, hitting Pearsall, the suspect and a nearby car.
• The suspect was 17 at the time and is now 18; adult court could have brought decades-to-life exposure, whereas juvenile penalties are significantly shorter.