Friday, November 15, 2024
32.0°F

Declination hearing looms for parental shooting case

Herald Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years AGO
by Herald Staff WriterCONNOR VANDERWEYST
| October 30, 2013 6:00 AM

EPHRATA - A decision on whether the 14-year-old Moses Lake boy accused of shooting his parents will be tried as an adult could be made in early December.

The boy is currently charged with two counts of attempted murder and his bail is set at $500,000.

Defense attorney Lylianne Couture and deputy prosecutor Steven Johnson are planning to meet with Court Administrator Mindi Finke to set a date for a declination hearing.

A declination hearing is when the defense attorney argues that the case should stay in juvenile court.

"We're targeting early December for the declination hearing day," Johnson said. "That's going to depend on judge availability as well as expert availability, but right now that's our target."

Both sides have received reports from experts involved in the case and the prosecution is waiting for a final report from Grant County Probation Services that should be delivered on Friday.

Judge Pro-tem Harry Ries elected not to set another status hearing before the declination hearing.

The 14-year-old allegedly took a .22 caliber pistol out of a locked gun case, loaded it and waited around 90 minutes before deciding to shoot his parents in March. He reportedly told police his parents grounded him from video games and other electronic devices.

The boy's parents, Jon and Elizabeth Brooks, survived the incident and were transported to an out-of-area hospital to recover from their injuries.

The boy's parents are allowed supervised visits, but they cannot discuss the case.

ARTICLES BY CONNOR VANDERWEYST

August 31, 2020 1 a.m.

Two more deaths linked to COVID-19 in Grant County announced

MOSES LAKE — Grant County Health District has reported the 14th and 15th deaths of Grant County residents associated with COVID-19.

August 29, 2020 1 a.m.

Two more COVID-19-linked deaths in Grant County announced

MOSES LAKE -- Grant County Health District is reporting the 14th and 15th deaths associated with COVID-19 in a Grant County resident.

Big Bend nursing students excel through difficulties
August 25, 2020 12:07 a.m.

Big Bend nursing students excel through difficulties

MOSES LAKE — Pam Kortness knew she wanted to be a nurse since she was a child.