Teen charged with killing brother to have competency tests

RAVENNA, Ohio – A 13-year-old Ohio boy charged in Juvenile Court in the shooting death of his 11-year-old brother will be evaluated to determine if he’s competent to stand trial.

The Record-Courier reports a judge in northeast Ohio’s Portage County said Monday the teen’s trial could begin as early as August. He’s charged with aggravated murder for killing his brother at their family’s Streetsboro home in April using a handgun stolen from their grandfather.

Police have said the shooting was premeditated. The teen was evaluated at a behavioural health centre four days before the shooting after expressing a desire to hurt himself.

A jury must hear the case because the teen could be ordered to spend some of his sentence in adult prison if the judge classifies him as a serious youthful offender.