LOGAN, Utah, May 10, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The second of two 16-year-old boys charged in the shooting of classmate Deserae Turner, 14, also will be tried as an adult.
First District Juvenile Judge Angela Fonnesbeck ruled on Wednesday that Colton Peterson, the alleged shooter, will face charges including attempted aggravated murder in the adult court system.
On Monday, the same judge ruled that Peterson’s friend, Jayzon Decker, will face charges in an adult court. Decker is believed to have provided the gun, come up with the plan to murder and rob Turner, and signaled Peterson when to fire the bullet into the back of the girl’s head.
The original plan was to kill Turner with a knife the boys had brought, according to court documents. The gun was brought as part of a backup plan.
Turner, left for dead in a dry canal bed in Smithfield and found hours after her Feb. 16 shooting, survived the incident, but faces ongoing therapy and limitations that will last the rest of her life.
Turner has limited control of the left side of her body, has lost vision in one eye, and faces cognitive challenges that require she be monitored at all times, her mother has said.
Turner has said she is “tougher than a bullet.” The .22-caliber bullet is lodged in her skull and cannot safely be removed.
