YOUNGSTOWN – Jose Monserrat, father of slain teen Amya Monserrat, was held in contempt of court Wednesday after he rushed a defendant in his daughter’s killing in Youngstown Municipal Court.

Amya, 15, was shot death outside of Martha’s Boulevard Bar and Grill on Southern Boulevard April 15,

Saun M. Peterson 20, was in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on complicity to murder in the girl’s death.

He was in the area of the courtroom where defendants and their attorneys sit when Jose Monserrat left his seat in the back of the courtroom and tried to get to Peterson.

A court security officer had placed a chair in the area where Monserrat was trying to approach the defendant. The officer also put the chair in front of Monserrat, slowing him down long enough for Detective Michael Cox, other Youngstown police officers and other security officers to take control of Monserrat.

He was taken to the Mahoning County jail.

Family members were required to leave the courtroom for the remainder of the hearing. Peterson waived the preliminary hearing, meaning no witnesses testified and the case was bound over to a Mahoning County grand jury.

At Peterson’s arraignment hearing last week, visiting Judge David Fuhry set bond at $1 million after a short discussion with Elliousa Baier, assistant Youngstown law director, about facts of the case.

During that discussion, the judge read from the criminal complaint, saying: “The complaint says (Peterson) was the person driving the car when the shots were fired.”

Youngstown police went to Columbus last week and brought Peterson back from the Franklin County jail and delivered him to Mahoning County jail.

Peterson was arrested in Columbus May 3 without incident on a warrant issued in Youngstown April 25.

Also charged in the case is Danyo Sellers, 16, on one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He was arraigned May 2 in Mahoning County Juvenile Court.

Youngstown police arrested Sellers April 22 on warrants after receiving information and evidence at the crime scene and “supporters from the community,” according to a police department news release.

Sellers is set for his next hearing at 10 a.m. Aug. 6 in juvenile court, followed by a 9 a.m. Sept. 6 hearing in juvenile court. There, Judge Theresa Dellick is expected to hear evidence to determine whether there is probable cause that Sellers committed the offenses charged.