11-year-old Lawrence Co. boy to stand trial on homicide charges

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Attorneys for Jordan Brown argued at his preliminary hearing before District Magistrate David Rishel that there is no physical evidence that clearly links the boy to the shotgun shooting of his father’s pregnant girlfriend.

Rishel, however, ruled today there is enough evidence for the 11-year-old boy to stand trial.

Brown’s arraignment, should the case proceed in adult court, will be May 1. His case will then go on the trial list. He is charged with two counts of criminal homicide.

Kenzie Houk, 26, was shot the morning of Feb. 20 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. as she was lying in her bed at the farmhouse she rented with her boyfriend, Chris Brown, on Wampum-New Galilee Road near Wampum, Pa. Her 9-month-old fetus, a boy who would have been named Christopher, died for lack of oxygen.

Police allege Jordan shot Houk in the back of the head with a 20-gauge shotgun, then caught the bus to school with Houk’s 7-year-old daughter, Janessa.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com