Toledo teen to be tried as adult in murder of 15-year-old

1/6/2009

A 17-year-old boy charged with fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy last month was certified Tuesday to stand trial as an adult.

Deshawn McCardell of 3126 Franklin Ave., was charged with murder and will be booked into the Lucas County jail on Tuesday.

The charge will be presented to a county grand jury within the next few weeks, said Lori Olender, an assistant county prosecutor.

The victim, Antonyo Phillips, 15, of West Toledo, was shot in the back and pronounced dead shortly after arriving at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

The shooting took place about 2 a.m. in the area of Lagrange and East Streicher streets when the Phillips youths and his cousins were approached by another group of people, police said.

The suspect, who is believed to have ties to a gang, apparently approached the group to give them a hard time, then pulled out a gun, and shot one round into the air.

A second shot was fired toward the group, striking the Phillips youth in the back.