The initial murder charge filed against the 14-year-old is expected to be dropped Thursday, Sheriff Wes Tripp confirmed today.
With the new petition expected to be approved and the initial charge expected to be dropped, the case will stay in juvenile court, the sheriff said. “Because of the totality and abundance of evidence in this case, I feel it’s appropriate it stays in juvenile court. This comes with many counseling sessions with the district attorney’s office.”
The decision to seek the petition for a downgraded charge comes as sheriff’s office detectives “continue to gather evidence and statements that show a history of alleged child abuse and domestic violence in this case,” Tripp said, referring to the boy’s father, Michael Allen Murray.
Tripp said the abuse reportedly went on for several years. He declined to elaborate on the nature of the alleged abuse.
The shooting occurred on Hedgepeth Road around 8 p.m. and the male juvenile was taken into secured custody with the state Department of Juvenile Justice in Greenville where he remains.
Murray was shot multiple times in the upper torso.