Judge Orders Monroeville Mall Shooting Suspect To Be Tried As Adult
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It was a night a year ago that no one at the Monroeville Mall will soon forget.
A young man walking through Macy's, pulling a gun and firing at another young man he thought was involved in a prior shooting. The victim and two other passersby were hit.
On Wednesday, the case was back in court.
The defense argued that suspect Tarod Thornhill could be amenable to mental health treatment as a juvenile for three more years till he's 21. But the prosecution argued that he's too dangerous to be tried in any system other than adult court.
Then, Allegheny County Judge Anthony Mariani, agreeing with the prosecution, ordered Thornhill to be tried as an adult.
"There are obviously facts that have come out today that are very important .I hope the public will pause before making a decision in this case," said defense attorney Christopher Urbano.
Among the facts revealed is that Thornhill had an extensive history in juvenile court, ranging from sexual allegations when he was 11, to threatening a teacher, to theft of a car and drugs, all before the mall shooting.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
Earlier in the case, the prosecution argued his mental health symptoms could have been affected by this call he made from the Allegheny County Jail just days after his arrest:
Woman: "Tarod, listen to me, and listen to me well. When that doctor comes to see you sometime this week, you act nuttier than a fruitcake. You understand?
Thornhill: "Yes."
Today his lawyer dismissed those tapes.
"The phone calls are irrelevant. They have nothing to do with the case or with Tarod's mental health," said Urbano.
It's uncertain whether those tapes will be relevant to Thornhill's trial, which is tentatively scheduled for later this month.
