Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Shooting

By Associated Press – 27 Oct ’14

A 16-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to charges that he fatally shot another teen in the head at close range.

Phillip Sam pleaded not guilty to 13 charges, including first-degree murder, in Laramie County District Court on Friday.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that Sam’s public defender has asked District Judge Thomas Campbell to transfer the case to juvenile court.

Campbell says the case will be sealed until he rules on the request.

Sam is charged with walking up to 19-year-old Tyler Burns and shooting him the head at point-blank range on Oct. 5. Burns died the next day.

Authorities say Sam fired more than a dozen shots at a group of teens who showed up for a fight between Sam and another person.