Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said his office wants to prosecute a 17-year-old boy from Roseville as an adult for two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree murder after police say the boy attacked his family on Tuesday morning.
“It’s just heartbreaking to know a family is going through all of this right now, and the violence that was involved,” said Choi. The boy is charged with stabbing and beating his bed-ridden grandmother, 88-year-old Patricia Maslow, who died at the scene. His beatings allegedly caused severe injuries to his mother and sister, also in the home.
Choi joins Sheriff Bob Fletcher in calling on state lawmakers to do more to provide mental health resources to help combat and perhaps prevent violent crime like this from happening.
“This conversation has been around a really long time, and what happens up at the legislature often times is that people are trying to get elected and get in power,” said Choi. “I wish they would just listen to those communities who are most impacted.”
For now, Choi said the best way his office can proceed in support of the victimized family and the community at large is to move forward with asking a judge to let prosecutors charge the boy as an adult.
“We have to go forward with the criminal charges, seek adult certification, and hold the person responsible for what has been done,” he said.