6/2/2010
By ERIN MATHEWS | Salina Journal

Saline County Attorney Ellen Mitchell has charged Ryan Velez, 14, with premeditated, first-degree murder in the Tuesday shooting death of his stepbrother, Kaden Harper, 9.
Ryan is in custody in the Saline County Juvenile Detention Center. His first appearance is set for 9 a.m. Thursday in Saline County District Court in courtroom 305.
Mitchell wrote in an e-mail that she will review all reports and evidence, and meet with Kaden’s family before deciding whether to seek adult prosecution.
Velez was arrested about five hours after the shooting occurred at the boys’ home in southern Saline County.
Kaden Harper was dead when emergency responders arrived at the home, authorities said. Velez had called 911 and was outside the house when deputies arrived, said Capt. Brian Shea of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. He no longer had the revolver-type handgun used in the shooting in his possession, Shea said.
The boys, who were both Southeast of Saline students, were home alone Tuesday when the shooting occurred at about 2:20 p.m. inside the rural home, Shea said.


For more on this story as it develops, stay with salina.com and read reporter Erin Mathews' story in Thursday's Salina Journal.

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