“Case in point several decades ago in my county a 15 yo male of undisclosed race shot a little girl in the head...”
The two teenagers who shot up their middle school in Arkansas killing several students and teachers, couldn’t be charged as adults due to their ages. They were released with new identities and a clean record on their 21st birthdays. I believe Arkansas updated their juvenile laws because of this case.
Yes It all depends on the laws. I’m not sure WHY the laws exist that way other than some misbegotten belief that teen criminals will change their ways if granted the mercy that they didn’t show their victims. Personally I could forgive minor infractions, but killing someone AND not by error in judgment, but by intent and only for the fun of it should be a public execution offense.