MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — The 14-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing a 13-year-old boy in a Mount Pleasant home is having his case moved to juvenile court.
The 14-year-old boy, who Channel 11 is no longer naming since he will not be tried as an adult, is accused of shooting and killing James “J.R.” Gustafson this past March. The two boys were playing with the gun at a friend’s apartment.
"I'm the one who gotta live every day without my son being home. I want my son to walk the streets too but I have to face the facts that I'll never see my son again," J.R.’s father Mark Gustafson said.
The judge said Friday she felt the 14-year-old boy was immature and remorseful, but J.R.’s family told Channel 11’s Melanie Gillespie they did not see it.
"There's been many of times where he'll look at us and smile and smirk at us," Mark Gustafson said.
Friday, it was learned that the suspected teen had been neglected and a victim of sexual abuse. The teen’s attorney said he feels both boys deserve some sympathy.
"This is what we hoped for and this is the result we wanted for so long. This is a case that calls out for juvenile court," Rick McCague, the teen’s attorney, said.
J.R.’s family said they just want to see justice for their son.
"Just want to see justice for J.R., definitely. Everything we can get," Mark Gustafson said.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
