CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A 14-year-old boy who allegedly shot and killed a tobacco store clerk in Charleston earlier this year is set to be arraigned on murder and robbery charges later this year.
Bre’jaun Williams-Hampton, of Charleston, was set to enter a plea agreement Monday morning before Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers, but instead backed out of the deal. Defense attorney Robby Long asked for another evaluation before moving forward.
“At this time Mr. Williams has asked that we ask the court for a second and separate evaluation to determine his competency and criminal responsibility,” Long said.
Akers denied the request because an evaluation was already previously conducted. She then permitted the doctor who prepared the first evaluation to gather more information for a written report.
“I am going to decline to order a new evaluation with a different evaluator, Mr. Long. The state of West Virginia has paid for one evaluation,” Akers said.
The judge then scheduled William-Hampton to be arraigned on Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. for the first-degree murder and first-degree robbery charges he was indicted on last month.
“It was my intention if there was not a plea to go forward with an arraignment. I think I could, but taking the respondent’s age into consideration, I will not,” Akers said.
Williams-Hampton was transferred from juvenile court to adult status in April.
Caden Martin, 19, was shot and killed on Jan. 30 while he was working at Tobacco & Pipe in the 2000 block of 7th Avenue in North Charleston.
A second teenager was also charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery for Martin’s death but has not been identified because the case is in juvenile court.
Juveniles who are convicted of first-degree murder as adults must become eligible for parole after 15 years, according to state law.