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West Jordan • A 14-year-old boy who is accused of shooting another teen outside a Sandy middle school will remain in a juvenile detention center as the criminal case against him moves forward.

The boy is charged in 3rd District Juvenile Court with first-degree felony attempted murder and several weapons charges, accused of shooting a 16-year-old boy twice in the head on Oct. 25 outside of Union Middle School. The victim survived the shooting.

At the defendant's first court appearance on Thursday, defense attorney Sophia Moore asked Judge Tupakk Renteria if her client could be released from custody, where he has been since the shooting.

"He is a first-time offender in juvenile court," Moore said. "He is only 14 years old. He's having a lot of problems being held in detention. We do believe this is a very severe case of bullying."

Prosecutors opposed the release, saying the crimes he is accused of are severe.

"This is a very, very serious offense," Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Thaddeus May said. "But for the grace of God, we would have a dead child. I think that seriousness can't be overstated, and I think that holding [him in custody] is the only responsible path for the court."

Renteria agreed with prosecutors, saying that because of the nature of the crime, the teen would be held in custody until at least his next hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 3.

The boy, who wore glasses and wore his light brown hair swept to the side, said very little in court Thursday, only that he was "fine" when the judge asked how he was doing.

Prosecutors have said that they want the 14-year-old boy to face the charges in adult court. That decision will be made by Renteria after he hears evidence of the crime, background from the defendant's medical and psychological records, along with his family history.

The boy got the gun from his mother's closet, according to charging documents, and brought it to school on Oct. 25 because he and the older boy had decided to fight and he was afraid the older boy "would do something."

As the two boys met up on the lawn outside the school, the younger boy pulled out the gun and pulled the trigger, according to charging documents.

Charges say the 16-year-old boy was shot on the right side of his skull above the ear, with an exit wound on top of his head. He also was shot on the left side of his neck, a couple of inches behind his ear, with an exit wound in his left cheek.

The 14-year-old was arrested at the scene.

Because he is a juvenile, police have not released the name of the injured boy. The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not identify juveniles charged with crimes unless they have been certified to stand trial in adult court.