This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A judge is expected to decide Friday whether the criminal case for a Utah teen shot by police near a Salt Lake City homeless shelter last year will remain in juvenile court.
Abdullahi "Abdi" Mohamed was 17 years old in February 2016, when he was shot while allegedly assaulting a man with a hollow metal rod in a dispute about a drug purchase.
In August, Salt Lake District Attorney Sim Gill ruled that the officers were justified in shooting the now-19-year-old man. Gill charged Mohamed with first-degree felony aggravated robbery and second-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute and wants the case moved to adult court.
Throughout this week, 3rd District Juvenile Judge Julie Lund listened to testimony from defense witnesses, who are arguing that the charges should remain in the juvenile system. Much of that testimony involved Mohamed's psychological records, and was closed to the media.
One expert witness — Rob Butters, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Utah — told the court that the adult system and imprisonment would not be helpful to Mohamed. Instead, he suggested therapy and guidance that the juvenile justice system can offer.
"There's not research that supports transferring kids to adult court with a good outcome," he said.
Lund is expected to hear closing arguments from attorneys Friday before making her decision. If it remains in the youth system, the maximum punishment that Mohamed can face is a stay in a juvenile secure care facility until he is 21 years old. In the adult court, he would face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison if convicted of the first-degree felony charge.
On Feb. 27, 2016, Mohamed allegedly assaulted a man who had asked to buy a marijuana cigarette from him for $1.10 near the Road Home shelter, 210 S. Rio Grande St. (440 West). Two police officers were in the area, according to preliminary hearing testimony, and spotted Mohamed striking the man with a hollow metal rod, which has been described as a handle for a mop, rake or broom.
As officers ran towards the scene and yelled at Mohamed to drop the weapon, they both opened fire. The teen was struck by four bullets, and was in a medically induced coma, hospitalized for weeks. He has appeared in court in a wheelchair.
While Gill declared that the officers were justified in firing their weapons, Salt Lake City's Civilian Review Board found that the actions of two officers were "not within" policy, according to the board's report.
The Salt Lake Tribune does not generally identify juveniles charged with a crime, but Mohamed's family publicly identified him in the wake of the police shooting.