NJ teen to be tried as adult in child's shooting death

ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) -- A teenager charged in a shooting that left a 10-year-old boy dead and his mother wounded will be tried as an adult.

Monmouth County prosecutors say 16-year-old Jah-Del Birch, of Neptune Township, faces murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault, and weapons charges stemming from the Feb. 21 shooting at an Asbury Park home. He's due to make his next court appearance on Thursday, and it wasn't known Wednesday if he's retained an attorney.

Authorities have said Birch apparently was an accomplice to 18-year-old Karon Council, who had been involved in an altercation with a man who lived at the home. When Council couldn't find him there, he allegedly opened fire.

Yovanni Banos-Merino died shortly after the shooting. His 38-year-old mother, Lilia Merino, was treated at a hospital for her wounds.