Adult charges sought in hotel killing

The 17-year-old is facing 12 charges in Sept. 13 DoubleTree shooting.

Prosecutors are seeking adult charges against a 17-year-old accused of shooting a Miami Twp. hotel worker in a late-night killing outside a business near the Dayton Mall.

The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office also is seeking several more counts — including four related to murder — against the Dayton teen in the Sept. 13 homicide of 19-year-old Jayren Graham, a Miami Twp. man, outside the DoubleTree Suites Hilton Hotel, where the victim worked.

Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said Thursday he is seeking to transfer the case against the defendant to adult court, according to a news release from the county. The teen, who has a lengthy juvenile record dating back nearly three years, was charged with a single count of murder after he was arrested Sept. 14.

“This defendant fatally shot another teen in a parking lot of a crowded Miami Twp. hotel,” Heck said in a statement. “We cannot allow such violent juveniles to only be held at the Department of Youth Services until age 21. This defendant will be tried, convicted, and sentenced accordingly.”

Miami Twp. police said Graham was shot in the head.

This news organization is not naming the 17-year-old until a judge transfers his case to adult court. The amended charges, according to the prosecutor’s office, include:

■ Four counts of murder;

■ Two counts of aggravated robbery;

■ Two counts of felonious assault;

■ Two counts of tampering with evidence;

■ One count of carrying concealed weapons;

■ One count of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

The counts of murder, aggravated robbery, and felonious assault include three-year firearm specifications, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The accused teen’s juvenile court record show more than 90 charges since late October 2015.

In previous cases, the teen was found delinquent on more than half of those charges. They range from probation violations and drug possession to theft, receiving stolen property, criminal damaging, endangering, aggravated menacing and assault, court records show.

The delinquent findings against the accused teen run from Oct. 28, 2015, to May 25 of this year, court records show. More than half of the charges were filed in 2016, resulting in about 40 delinquency findings, according to court records.

The accused teen had a plea of denial, county juvenile court records show.

Judge Anthony Capizzi is handling the case. The next court date is Oct. 29, Capizzi’s staff has said.