NEW CASTLE, Indiana — A second juvenile will be charged as an adult in the murder of a New Castle man earlier this year.
A judge in Henry County determined last month the child, who was 15 at the time of the shooting death of 47-year-old Ernie Thornsberry Jr., will be waived to adult court to face charges of murder and unlawful transfer of a handgun in the man's death.
(NOTE: The video in the player above is a May 2023 story about the shooting.)
Thornsberry was fatally shot on May 2, 2023. According to court documents, a group of teens saw Thornsberry on the street, and one of them, a 13-year-old boy, allegedly started threatening Thornsberry and throwing rocks at him.
When Thornsberry pulled out a pocket knife, prosecutors say the teen shot him several times.
Four teens were seen by a witness running from the scene. They were later found and questioned by detectives for the shooting. The 13-year-old was arrested on a murder charge and the other teens, all under 15 years of age, were let go.
The 13-year-old was waived to adult court for the murder in August. Court documents say the teen's friends told police the teen said he wanted to shoot someone days before the attack.
Court documents filed last month against the second juvenile allege the boy gave the 13-year-old his stepfather's handgun, which was used in the shooting, days before the incident. The 15-year-old then reported the gun stolen to his parents, who reported it to police.
Both teens have a jury trial scheduled for March 2024, according to court records.