FAYETTE COUNTY — A 17-year-old has been charged in Fayette County Court with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 14-year-old Salem boy over the weekend in St. Peter.
Kaden A. Phillips was formally charged in court Wednesday as an adult with First Degree Murder, which is a Class M Felony.
Charging information says the defendant shot Dakota Branch in the chest with a gun, thereby causing his death.
Phillips is also charged with Class X felony Attempted First Degree Murder, and Class 1 felony Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm.
The Fayette County State’s Attorney’s Office says a detention hearing was held Wednesday morning regarding the shooting incident from Saturday.
Fayette County State’s Attorney Brenda Mathis released a statement Wednesday listing the charges against Phillips and thanking ISP for their swift work on the investigation.
Branch was an eighth grader at Franklin Park Middle School in Salem.