Hearing scheduled to decide teen's adult trial status

A court has scheduled a hearing for a 16-year-old boy charged in the shooting death of 27-year-old Opoka James Bot Nathanael. This hearing will determine if the teen will be tried as an adult. It is set for May 12 in Mower County District Court. The teen, who cannot be named because he is a minor, is facing serious charges. He has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree murder in connection with the shooting that occurred on February 15. On that day, police responded to a call at around 1:35 p.m. They found Nathanael shot in a parked car. He was pronounced dead soon after. Another person in the vehicle was also wounded and was taken to a hospital for treatment. An autopsy revealed that Nathanael had been shot seven times in the back. The other victim suffered two gunshot wounds. Before the May hearing, the court will conduct a psychological evaluation of the teen. This assessment will look at the seriousness of the charges and any past criminal behavior. Information revealed during this evaluation cannot be used against him in court.