| Juveniles charged in attempted murder held in detention |
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By: Lisa Marchesoni
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Posted: Thursday, December 4, 2008 4:44 pm
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Two teens accused of participating in an attempted murder and robbery Tuesday were ordered held in detention because they are considered risks to the community.
Murfreesboro Detective Ed Gorham charged the 16-year-old girl, who was released from detention Nov. 26, and the 17-year-old boy and two adults with attempted murder of Edward Jamar Pope, who was accidentally shot by suspect Deonday Evans during the robbery.
The juveniles were also charged with aggravated robbery, reckless endangerment with a weapon and aggravated burglary of the victim at University Terrace Apartments, Gorham said. Pope fired one round inside the victim’s apartment with a .380-caliber handgun before Evans shot him three times with a 9mm handgun outside the apartment. The girl drove the injured Pope to the hospital.
Gorham testified the juveniles did not fire a weapon. He accused the boy of trying to commit the robbery and the girl of driving the vehicle and hiding the weapons used.
Defense attorneys Will Fraley and Ben Parsley argued their clients did not fire any weapons and did not participate in the shooting, robbery, burglary or endangerment.
Assistant District Attorney Leslie Collum said both juveniles had been in court many times. Even if the cases were attempted robbery and burglary, the charges are still serious.
“She drove the getaway car” and hid the weapons, Collum said of the 16-year-old girl.
Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport said both juveniles were present at the crimes and did nothing to stop the crimes.
“They’re a risk to the community and they’re clearly a risk to themselves,” Davenport said in ordering they remain in detention. “They’re lucky they didn’t get shot.”
Assistant Juvenile Services Director Todd Savage said Davenport released the girl Nov. 26, four days early from detention, after the girl’s plea to be out for Thanksgiving Nov. 27. The girl was under a court order not to be around Pope, who is also wanted for failing to appear in Juvenile Court.
Davenport said she should have kept the girl in detention.
“You all think I’m too mean,” Davenport said. “I have reasons for keeping them locked down,” adding if she kept the girl in detention, she would not have been involved in another crime.
Gorham said the girl was driving her parents’ car when the crime occurred about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Davenport said her parents may face charges for not supervising their daughter who violated her court order to stay away from Pope.
“You may be facing trial as an adult,” Davenport told the girl and the boy who will be 18 in four days.
The angry judge addressed the girl.
“You do not listen to my words or my orders,” Davenport said, noting the girl begged to get out and violated the court order. “Her credibility is zero with me.”
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