A teen charged in the death of his friend after an apparent accidental shooting in Miami Gardens will be allowed to go home.
A judge ruled the 14-year-old boy will be let out of detention but must wear a GPS monitor while under home detention. The victim's mother left the courthouse visibly upset, questioning the judge's decision to allow the teen to be released.
"I am still hurting cause the other side is hurting, and I am feeling her pain," said the charged teen's mother, Marie Tessier. "I understand what she is going through."
Prosecutors said they are considering charging the teen as an adult.
"I am obviously concerned about that. All I can say is to take it one step at a time. The first legal battle will be to keep the case here in juvenile court," said Alex Michaels, family attorney.
The shooting happened Saturday when 14-year-old Tavaris Rhodes was in a home on Northwest 172nd Terrace with the other teen playing with a gun when it went off, hitting Rhodes in the head, police said.
Rhodes was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center where he later died. Police have charged the other 14-year-old with manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a minor.
Local
Since the teen's arrest, his attorney has claimed he was "pushed around" by police and forced to make a statement. Miami Gardens Police said they have no comment on the attorney's claims.
Rhodes was a student at North Dade Middle School and had been staying at the home where he was shot, which is owned by a family friend.
The State Attorney will now review the details of the case to determine whether they will take this to adult court. The teen hasn't been in any serious trouble in the past. He will be back in court on March 21.
