Prosecutors have charged a 14-year-old Omaha boy as an adult with second degree murder in the shooting death of another Omaha teenager.
Police say Tyon Wells shot and killed 17-year-old Zachary Parker earlier this month during a marijuana deal that went bad. The family of Wells wants the case moved to juvenile court.
Family and friends of the 14-year-old gathered Monday to make a video pleading his case. The family wants prosecutors know that the teen just turned 14. They say he was an athlete and an honor student, and that he grew up in tough conditions.
"He was raised in a single home with an absent father. And unfortunately, like most kids in every urban community around the United States, he encountered gangs, drug activity and violence,” the family said.
The 14-year-old faces four charges including second degree murder and two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony.
"We are not trying to minimize the seriousness of what Ty has been accused of doing. We only ask that Ty be given the opportunity to have his case tried in juvenile court which is the best place for him to get justice, rehabilitation and access to services to overcome the adverse conditions that he has been subjected to,” family member Sherman Wells told 6 News.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says at this time Wells is being charged as an adult. "We have very sound basis for that. But of course we'll keep vetting the case - the facts, circumstances, his background, and see where that leads us,” said Kleine.
Douglas County prosecutors say if Wells is found guilty in juvenile court, the court only maintains jurisdiction over the individual until they're 19 years of age.