GREENVILLE -- An Oct. 25 autopsy found a McGee teenager died of a gunshot wound to his head allegedly caused by a teenage relative.
The victim is identified as Ricky Taylor, 13, said Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch. Ricky's funeral information appears of Page 6A.
An autopsy performed by Dr. Russell Deidiker at Farmington showed the "cause of death was a (single) shotgun blast to the back of the head," said Finch.
The alleged shooter, who is 15, is being held in a juvenile detention center at this time, Finch said.
The teen's case is proceeding through the juvenile court system, which includes having a detention hearing, Finch said.
"He will be detained in the juvenile system until such time as a hearing can be held for certification as an adult," Finch said.
If the teen is certified to stand trial as an adult, then any charges would be filed in Wayne County's Circuit Court.
Authorities learned of the teen's death at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when a call came into the Wayne County Sheriff's Department from the teen's mother, Finch earlier said.
When deputies arrived at the single-wide mobile home on Highway Z, they found Taylor dead in the kitchen from an apparent gunshot wound, said Finch.
The teenage suspect, the sheriff said, was taken into custody after he emerged from the woods adjacent to the home.
The teens, Finch said, were the only ones in the home at the time of the alleged shooting.
"We don't 100 percent know at this point" why the shooting occurred, Finch said. "We've got speculation."
According to Finch, the investigation is not closed at this point.
"It is still an ongoing investigation," Finch said. " ... if any further information becomes available, that will be investigated."
Finch said the Greenville School District, where Taylor was a student, is providing counselors for the other students.
"The Wayne County Sheriff's Department is providing counselors also," Finch added.