A 17-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting Tabb High student Dylan Peters will continue to be held without bond until his hearing in April.
The suspect, who authorities say tried to rob Peters of drugs, money and a gun Jan. 27 when he went to his home in Tabb and shot five bullets through the front door and into Peters, has retained Shawn W. Overbey from Newport News as his attorney.
The 17-year-old, who was arrested at the York-Poquoson Sherriff’s Office on Jan. 28, faces second-degree murder, attempted robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
York Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge Wade Bowie ruled Thursday to continue holding the teen — who appeared via video for his hearing — at the Merrimac Juvenile Detention Center.
The families of both the suspect and the victim were present at the hearing Thursday in York County.
The teen’s adjudication hearing, or trial, is set for 1:30 p.m. April 23. The hearing is expected to last at least three hours, according to the defense attorney and prosecuting attorney.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Benjamin Hahn said he plans to file a motion to try the 17-year-old as an adult in circuit court.
If that motion is granted, the judge will determine April 23 whether there is enough evidence to move the case to circuit court, where it will then be tried.
Tevin Lambert, a 20-year-old who is accused of providing the shooting suspect with a backpack to store the goods he planned to steal from Peters and arranging the meetup between Peters and the accused shooter, has been appointed attorney Richard Collins to represent him.
Lambert, who was arrested at his Newport News home Tuesday, faces a felony charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and was denied bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 16.
A criminal complaint against Lambert details how Lambert, the teen suspect and a friend spent several hours together the day of the shooting.
During their time in Tabb, the shooting suspect — who authorities said is a Grafton High School student — tells the other two he heard while in custody at the Merrimac Juvenile Detention Center that Peters had drugs, money and a gun,” according to the complaint.
The boy is suspected of separating from the other two in the Whispering Winds neighborhood in Tabb, going to Peters’ home on Cattail Lane and having a brief conversation with him on the porch.
Peters then retreated back into the home and attempted to close the door, and the suspect shot five .40 caliber bullets that went through the door and hit Peters in the chest, shoulder, leg and hand, authorities said.
Police received the 911 call around 3:40 p.m. and arrived at the scene moments later. Peters was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, where he was pronounced dead.
The friend who was with Lambert and the shooting suspect the day of the shooting told investigators the teenager admitted he had shot Peters and was not able to steal drugs or money from him.
The gun has not yet been recovered, Lt. Dennis Ivey said Thursday.
Investigators said Lambert and the shooting suspect were exchanging text messages with Peters about purchasing marijuana leading up to the shooting Jan. 27.
Witnesses and family members interviewed by investigators said Peters was “known to sell marijuana from the residence,” the complaint against Lambert states.
No other arrests have been made in this case, which remains under investigation.
Related Coverage:
- Court Documents: Teen Told Friend He Shot Tabb Student
- YPSO Makes Second Arrest in Connection with Fatal Shooting of Tabb High Student
- Sheriff: Suspect Fired Five Shots Through Door, Killing Tabb High Student
- YPSO: Teenager Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Tabb High Student
- YPSO: Shooter on the Loose After Killing 17-Year-Old Boy in Tabb
