Family court judge to decide whether KC teen will face adult charges in murder case

A Jackson County family court judge on Wednesday said he would decide soon whether a teen charged in the February shooting death of another teenager will stand trial as an adult.

The 15-year-old faces second-degree murder and tampering charges in the Feb. 15 death of Jaiair Strong.

Jaiair, a Raytown High School student, also 15, was fatally shot in the chest near U.S. 40 and Willow Road.

Court officials did not release the name of the teen charged because he is a juvenile.

He appeared in court Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether he will be certified to stand trial as an adult. Judge David Byrn said he would take the issue under advisement.

Witnesses told investigators that the teen, another teen and Jaiair went to an apartment on Willow Road to meet someone who they said was going to sell them marijuana, said Daniel Barry, an attorney for the juvenile office.

Investigators believe they had actually gone there to steal a handgun from another youth.

Jaiair was wounded as he and the youth struggled over the gun. He later died at a hospital. The teen who shot Jaiar has not been charged.

On Wednesday in juvenile court, authorities said the teen had disciplinary and academic problems while in high school but had not been in trouble with the law.

The boy’s mother repeatedly had tried to get her son to stay away from other troubled youths, said Laurie Snell, an attorney representing the teen.

The teen’s behavior improved under a strict and structured environment, according to two witnesses who testified Wednesday.

Several relatives of Jaiair, including his mother, attended the two-hour hearing. Tanya Hughes rushed out of the courtroom in tears when authorities described how Jaiair was fatally wounded.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Family court judge to decide whether KC teen will face adult charges in murder case."