A 15-year-old accused of shooting and killing another teen on Detroit’s west side has been charged, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Leland Neal, 14, was shot dead in the 7000 block of Brace St. after the suspect robbed the boy of his backpack just before 2 a.m. on Sept. 13, authorities allege.
The suspect lied to police before he turned himself on Sept. 17, according to the prosecutor’s office. He’s charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, armed robbery, three counts of felony firearm, and two counts of lying to police.
Authorities haven’t named the suspect because he’s a juvenile and is not charged as an adult. He’s instead charged as an “adult designated,” which if convicted, would allow a judge
to sentence him as an adult if appropriate.
Matt Friedman, a spokesperson for Samaritas, a social services nonprofit, told the Free Press that Leland was in the process of being adopted by his caregiver when he was killed. He said the organization had worked with the child for several years, adding that it’s been an “exceptionally sad time” for the organization.
He attended Northwestern High School, according to the school district.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Charges filed in shooting death of Detroit 15-year-old
