12-Year-Old Boy Faces Hearing In Colorado For Fatally Shooting His Parents, Wounding His Siblings

The 12-year-old Burlington, Colorado boy accused of killing his parents and critically injuring his younger siblings appeared in court for a pretrial hearing Monday morning.

On March 1, Charles and Marilyn Long, the boy's parents, were found shot to death in their Burlington, Colorado home. The boy’s two younger siblings, 5-year-old Sarah and 9-year-old Ethan were gravely wounded, but not killed, according to a CBSNews report. After allegedly firing upon his family, the 12-year-old boy called 911 to report that members of his family had been shot.

9News reports that the suspect is facing nine charges: two first-degree murders charges, two attempted murder counts and multiple counts of assault which are associated with the almost fatal wounds he allegedly administered to his younger brother and sister with both a knife and firearm.

According to CBSNews, the Long family’s church pastor Ron Lee said the 12-year-old boy was active in their church, frequently handing out church bulletins, greeting church visitors before Sunday service, working with audio and video equipment, running Powerpoint presentations and helping children learn memory verses.

But, the big question on everyone’s mind at the hearing was: Do you try a 12-year-old accused killer as an adult or as a minor? The Denver Post reports that District Attorney Bob Watson will have 30 days to decide to request a transfer hearing in which the judge could then decide to try the boy as an adult.

In a statement to The Denver Post, Watson said:

Half of a community will want me shot if I give a kid anything other than a hug, the other half of a community wants me shot if I don't go as far as life.