16-year old Arkansas boy shoots man to death during robbery over cell phone minutes

Shooter Thomas Joe Hunter, age 16

16-year old Thomas Joe Hunter, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, needed money to buy minutes for his phone.  So he decided to go to the home of Kenny Brown, 30, who was running a dice game, and steal Brown's money.  A struggle ensued, and Brown was shot through the head and killed by Hunter.

A judge has now ruled that Hunter is to be charged as an adult for the slaying.

From an article:

During an interview with JPD, Hunter told police he went to an apartment on West Monroe Street that night to rob Brown of money from a dice game he was playing. Hunter told police he needed the money to put minutes on his cell phone. 

The shooting took place around 9pm on July 24 in Apartment C at 1007 West Monroe Street. When police arrived at the home they found Kenny O. Brown dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head. 

Witnesses told police a black male fired a shot through the door of the apartment and then came into the room demanding money while pointing a gun. Witnesses say the suspect was wearing a hat and a red bandana over his face. 

People inside the apartment say Brown and his brother tried to disarm Hunter, when Brown was shot in the head. 

Witnesses told police the suspect was Hunter and they were able to find him a short while later. 

Police say evidence of a dice game and money were found at the scene, along with a black handgun just outside the apartment. 

Hunter is charged as an adult with capital murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated residential robbery. He's being held without bond, and is due back in court on November 13th.

The article doesn't say how Hunter got the gun.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.