Prosecutors have announced a reduction in the charges against a 15-year-old Buffalo teenager accused of stabbing a fellow McKinley High School student on September 9th. Initially charged with first-degree assault, the teen now faces a second-degree assault charge.
The decision to lower the charge was made by the Erie County District Attorney's Office. Kait Munro, the DA's public information officer, stated that the "serious physical injury element of the charge ... could not be met."
This change in the charge has significant implications for the teen's legal status. With the reduction in charges, the teenager is no longer classified as a juvenile offender which would have resulted in his case being heard in the Youth Part of Erie County Court.
Instead, he is now considered a juvenile delinquent and the case has been moved to Family Court where he already has another open case. Due to the age of the victim, their name has not been released to the public.
Prosecutors Reduce Assault Charge Against High School Teen who Stabbed Student in Neck