Teen to stand trial as adult in girl's shooting

Suspect in shooting of Vernice Hall will stand trial as adult.

Last update: December 6, 2007 - 8:54 PM

A teenager charged with shooting 12-year-old Vernice Hall as she walked home from a party will stand trial as an adult.

Semaj Marquise Magee, 16, faces 18 felony charges -- including first-degree attempted murder -- for his involvement in the September shooting. He was certified as an adult Wednesday after a hearing before Hennepin County District Judge Pamela Alexander.

Hall, who was standing a few feet from her home, was shot in the head and is undergoing intense physical, speech and occupational therapy.

The day after the shooting, a witness on a city bus told police he heard Magee and another suspect in the shooting, Tywin Marcell Bender, 17, bragging about shooting into a party crowd and hitting a little girl, according to the criminal complaint.

The Hennepin County attorney's office said in September it would seek to certify both as adults.

COURTNEY BLANCHARD