Teen competent to stand trial
SPRINGFIELD — An Ohio teenager charged as an adult for the killing of his younger brother last year after an argument over Halloween candy has been ruled competent to stand trial.
The Springfield News-Sun reports a Clark County judge says 16-year-old Nicholas Starling, of Springfield, is able to understand court procedures and assist his attorney.
Public defender James Marshall previously tried entering a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity for Starling. Marshall couldn’t be reached for comment Sunday.
Authorities say Starling killed 14-year-old Harley Starling last October. Police say he told detectives he went into his brother’s bedroom and hit him in the head multiple times with a baseball bat before stabbing him in the neck.
Starling’s trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 28.
Pedestrian has life-threatening injuries
COLUMBUS — Investigators say a man is being treated for life-threatening injuries after he was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street in Columbus.
WBNS-10TV reports that the pedestrian was walking across East Dublin Granville Road at about 3 a.m. Sunday when he was hit. The man has been transported to a local hospital.
The Columbus Police Accident Investigations Unit is investigating to see if the driver stopped after the crash.
The road where the incident occurred was closed for a few hours following the crash, but has reopened.
Prosecutors seek to charge teen as adult
FREMONT — A Juvenile Court judge in northwest Ohio has ordered a 14-year-old boy to undergo mental and background evaluations to determine whether he should face adult charges in the fatal shooting of his 14-year-old cousin.
Sandusky County Prosecutor Tim Braun said in court Friday the teen was “gambling with other people’s lives” when he killed Jaylen Brock last month in Fremont.
Witnesses testified the teen had a revolver loaded with two rounds. They said he pointed it at Jaylen and another boy, pulled the trigger and nothing happened. The second time he pulled the trigger, he shot his cousin in the chest.
The teen faces murder and other juvenile charges. His attorney argues the shooting was an accident.
The Associated Press generally does not identify juveniles charged with crimes.
