Prosecutorsmove to charge teens as adults in killings of officer, informant

Cuyahoga CLEVELAND —

County prosecutors are seeking to charge two teens as adults in the fatal shooting of Cleveland police Det. James Skernivitz and a police informant.

The teens, ages 15 and 17, are charged in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and lesser offenses.

A third suspect, 18-yearold David McDaniel Jr., is also charged with aggravated murder in Cleveland MunicipalCourt. ACuyahoga County grand jury has not yet reviewed his case.

Assis tant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Brett Kyker filed the requests to have the teens’ casesmoved to adult court. A hearing in front of Juvenile Court Judge Alison Floydhas not yetbeen scheduled.

If Floyd determines at a hearing that the teens should be tried as adults, they could face substantially harsher punishments if they’re convicted. If the teens are convicted in juvenile court they would face a maximumsentence in the Ohio Department of Youth Services juvenile prison system until they turn 21. If they’re charged as adults they could face life in prison.

Kykerwrote in abrief court filing thatprosecutors believe both teens are unable to be rehabilitated in the juvenile justice system and that they pose a risk to the safety of the community.

McDaniel and the two teens are accused of fatally shooting Skernivitz and police informant Scott Dingess.

The shooting happened Sept. 3 in Cleveland’s Stockyards neighborhood. Skernivitz was working undercover and investigating drug dealing in the area when three people walked up to his car, tried to rob him and Dingess and opened fire.

Surve i l l a n c e video recorded the shooting, prosecutors previously said.

The 15-year-old boy admitted to his role in the incident in interviews with Cleveland police detectives after his arrest, according to prosecutors.