15-year-old charged with murder

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BY CHAS REILLY
creilly@nwitimes.com
219.662.5324 | Tuesday, November 20, 2007 | (12 comment(s))

GARY | A 15-year-old charged with murder in the shooting death of a Merrillville teen may be tried as an adult, Lake County prosecutor's office said Monday.

Keon Moten, 15, was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and criminal recklessness, the prosecutor's office said.

Gary police Cmdr. Samuel Roberts said police presented the charges to the prosecutor's office Monday, and the suspect was transported to the Lake County Juvenile Center in Crown Point. The prosecutor's office said it will push for Moten to be tried as an adult.

Police said Moten fatally shot Anthony White, 16, on Sunday morning outside of a gas station at the intersection of 49th Avenue and Broadway in Gary following a fight. Police said Moten also shot and injured three other people outside the gas station.

White was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound to the head at 2:49 a.m. at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary, the Lake County coroner's office reported.

White was a junior at Merrillville High School, Principal Mike Krutz said.

Krutz said he heard of the situation Sunday night and made arrangements to set up the school's crisis team for grieving students Monday. He said students were allowed to go to the school's guidance office to speak with social workers about the situation.

"That's a terrible, devastating situation," Krutz said. "We're going to come together to try and get through it."

Police said the incident began at The Flava, a club on Broadway just south of the shooting scene, but weren't certain if the club was involved. Club owners could not be reached for comment Monday.

An officer in Gary's juvenile division said police couldn't release additional information on the suspect -- including Moten's hometown -- because he is a juvenile. The case remained under investigation Monday, police said.

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Keon's Aunt wrote on Nov 28, 2007 1:35 PM:

" I guest you people think there is no crime south of Gary. That's where the people financing and running the guns and drug operations live. Probably your neighbors.The paper is so concerned about not printing his address but they sure printed his name. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty. That concept must be lost on you people whenever a young black CHILD is involved. This is terrible for both families. Young black lives lost in Gary again and all some of you people that live south of Gary can think about is not in my neighborhood. Oh, it's already in your neighborhood just not in the newspaper. You should be praying for these youngsters not judging them. Hope you stay safe in the south. Folks in Gary do have cars. And I'm sure this will really scare you......they can read too. "

Ursula Peppers wrote on Nov 27, 2007 7:24 AM:

" It happened earlier,read he was pronounced dead at 2:49 after attempts to save his life. I read, reading was taught in East Chicago. It is an unfurtunate incident. Why leave that in Gary.You really think better people live south??? Hardly. Here is something else I learned in E.C & Gary schools.All People are created equal, Jesus loves the little kids and Fools and it take a whole village to raise a child. Please don't pass judgement on People of different races.You don't have to be of Negro decent to do a Columbine, a Virginia Tech or D.C Sniper I wouls think you would have to be a person of not value for Human Life itself those murderers didn't say oh I am going to Gary Indidna and Kill all the Black People.....Get Real...Get Jesus reach one and teach one these are the people that will make choices for you when you're old and feeble. I hope that I will be taken care of becuase I am a United States Citizen, not because I am Black or because I live in Merrillville. Just because It's the right thing to do! "

pray wrote on Nov 21, 2007 11:51 PM:

" people wake up,gary had 65 murder a year,we had alot of murder free .seek to kill you next or your,sister,brother,father,mom and child. 1000 murder walk the st of gary free "

Amen!!!!! wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:51 PM:

" I agree. "

So Cal Ron wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:27 PM:

" If a 15 year old has a gun, the likelihood is that it is stolen. I did not say he stole it, merely that it was stolen or otherwise illegally obtained and that he had possession of it (also a crime). "

Nope wrote on Nov 20, 2007 8:16 PM:

" It didn't happen, Gary's a safe city with no crime. Ask Mayor Rudy, he'll tell you. "

So Sad yet again wrote on Nov 20, 2007 7:40 PM:

" This is a very sad and disturbing situation 15 & 16yrs old life is gone and wasted this is sad that these teens do not have any respect for life, again we have to do something about this can we get the schools involved along with the locking up the parents of this kids there not adults they no not what they do and how this is shaping up there lifes these are the kids of the crack era, we have to become accountable for our children, We as parents have to take resposibility for these kids if these kids have a gun then punish the parents at some point we have to get it through to the parents that they are resposible for raising there kids no matter how hard it is just because we are poor that is no excuse for ignorance. "

Where? wrote on Nov 20, 2007 5:39 PM:

" Where do people gets guns, anywhere in Gary, no problem!, the 15 yr old wanted to be a "MAN", then he will in Adult Court, he best start crying now, theres no sympathy in prison "

Laura J. wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:01 PM:

" What a horrible situation. What is the curfew for 15/16 year olds in Gary? It was 2:39 in the A.M. If the police are too busy to enforce curfew then where are the parents? What time does the club Flava stay open till to minors? Do they card like other clubs? "

Let's hope...... wrote on Nov 20, 2007 11:39 AM:

" Good, I hope they do try him as an adult. If he wants to act like a big man, let him spend time with the big men. Maybe if more of these thugs start serving harder time, they'll think twice about picking up a gun and shooting people. Oh, wait. What am I thinking? That should have been taught by his parents while he was still young enough to learn moral values. Hmmm... Maybe the answer is an island somewhere far, far away from civilization to drop all of these gang bangers off. Then they can just do what they wish to each other. "

Curfew wrote on Nov 20, 2007 8:06 AM:

" Again, is their a curfew? Parents do you not have a curfew? "

Agitator wrote on Nov 20, 2007 7:06 AM:

" Where does a 15 year old get a gun? Why does a 15 year old resort to shooting to resolves disputes? Perhaps the parents should be held accountable. "

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