CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's been months since 18-year-old Kashawn Johnson was found shot and killed in north Charlotte. Since then, his mother, Tianna Nelson, has been fighting hard to make sure justice is served and the teenage suspect is held fully accountable without a chance to hurt someone else.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police charged an adult and a 15-year-old with first-degree felony murder in the case. Investigators said Kashawn Johnson was robbed and then shot in the head by the suspects.
"A homicide was committed during the act of another felony crime," Nelson said. "For adults, this is eligible for the death penalty — this is a very serious case.”
Nelson said she was given the impression the teen's case would be transferred to adult court, but then the Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office informed her otherwise. Now there's a chance if the case is tried in juvenile court the suspect could face a maximum of two years.
She believes more should be done.
“I don’t have any more children, but your children and your families deserve to be safeguarded and deserve a judicial system and deserve a district attorney’s office that will follow due process and prosecute and put violent offenders away," Nelson said.
Defense attorney Anastasia Cowan with Arnold & Smith Law Firm said the purpose of the juvenile system is more about rehabilitation and less about punishment, but many factors are considered when deciding if a case should be transferred from juvenile to adult court.
A history of violent criminal behavior is one of those factors. Nelson said her son's accused killer is a direct example of this.
“If you've had that history in juvenile court and you've already received the benefit of some of those services that are offered through juvenile court you’re more likely to be transferred," Cowan said.
Cowan also adds a request for an evaluation can oftentimes reveal even more factors.
“Looking at several things — whether or not there are any mental delays, any educational needs, where this kid is developmentally, even if there are no delays — because this 15-year-old isn’t necessarily the same as another 15-year-old based upon lots of things, like socioeconomic status, educational opportunities, family situations," Cowan said.
On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Nelson is organizing a peaceful protest beginning at 11 a.m. outside of the district attorney's office on East Trade Street. The crowd plans to head to the courthouse following the demonstration.
“We want to shed light on this case and awareness and I hope that Spencer Merriweather and the rest of the district attorney’s office do what is ethically right and prosecute and protect us, protect the community," Nelson said.
Contact Briana Harper at bharper@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.