A teenager charged as an adult for allegedly stabbing to death a 15-year-old boy made his first court appearance Tuesday.

Third District Court Judge Deno Himonas read the first-degree felony murder count filed against Jonatan Bustos. The 16-year-old boy heard the charge via closed circuit feed from the Salt Lake County jail.

Bustos' mother watched from the courtroom as her son was appointed an as yet unidentified public defender.

Bustos is scheduled to return to court Thursday after meeting with counsel. His mother declined to comment about the case after her son's hearing.

Bustos faces the murder charge for allegedly stabbing to death Tayler Pankow outside a West Valley City Family Dollar store on Aug. 30.

Bustos was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on Sept. 2 and is being held on $1 million bond.

Pankow was with his twin brother, Tracy, and a few other friends last month when he confronted Bustos in front of the store, 4720 W. 4715 South, claiming the teen had stolen his iPod, said Ricky Temple, a friend of Pankow. Pankow pushed and hit Bustos, who was about the same height as Pankow but slightly heavier, Temple said.

Bustos allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Pankow.

According to the charging documents, Pankow was stabbed in the stomach and heart and died outside the store from the chest wound, a medical examiner determined.

Bustos told police after he was arrested that he had argued with Pankow on Aug. 27 about a stolen iPod. He said he began carrying the knife after the argument to protect himself, charging documents state.

Bustos also admitted to police that he argued with Pankow outside the Family Dollar store on Aug. 30, stabbed him twice and ran away.

Both boys attended Hunter High School.

jbergreen@sltrib.com