Louisville's top prosecutor says teens charged with felony gun crimes will be tried as adults

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney said Thursday that anyone 15 years or older who commits a felony with a gun will automatically be charged as an adult.

Gerina Wethers held a news conference Thursday in response to a recent surge in teenage violence in Louisville. She called it a public health crisis.

"The firearm is what makes the difference," Wethers said. "If you are committing adult crimes with a gun, you're going to be prosecuted as such."

Wethers said these teenagers who are committing crimes and parents who are not engaged will have to answer to her office.

Police arrested two teenagers this month for a shootout near a Louisville school bus stop, a dangerous scene that highlighted the city's youth violence epidemic and renewed a push to reopen Louisville's juvenile justice center.

It could be years before that happens, and some lawmakers said Thursday that's unacceptable.

The shootout happened Aug. 7, the first day of class for Jefferson County Public Schools. A teenage boy was arrested shortly thereafter and faces dozens of charges, including 33 counts of wanton endangerment and one count of possession of a handgun by a minor. A second suspect, arrested Wednesday, faces the same charges.

Police said the two teens had an "exchange of gunfire" near 10th and Chestnut streets.

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