STRUTHERS — A Youngstown teenager arrested this week in connection with the killing of 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney would be tried as an adult, if the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office has its way.

Brandon Crump, 17, was arrested Wednesday by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force after he was found in Youngstown and had attempted to flee from a house on South Pearl Street. Crump is facing a charge of aggravated robbery with a three-year firearm specification, according to juvenile court documents.

A motion was filed with the juvenile court by Anissa Modarelli, assistant prosecuting attorney, juvenile division, to try Crump as an adult for his alleged role in the Sept. 21 killing of Rowan.

During the early morning shooting, Crump had a .45-caliber handgun that was displayed, brandished or “used to facilitate the offense,” the complaint states.

Crump was arraigned in juvenile court on Thursday afternoon, where he was appointed an attorney and a guardian ad litem, the court confirmed Friday.

During the court hearing, a plea of denial, or equivalent of not guilty for juveniles, was entered. Another hearing will occur in seven to 10 days.

Crump is the second person to be accused in the shooting that occurred about 2 a.m. at 111 Perry St.

Kimonie Bryant, 24, of Struthers, has been at the Mahoning County jail on a murder charge for his role in the killing.

Bryant also is accused of shooting four adults who were in the home at the time: Andre McCoy, Yarnell Green Jr., Sweeney’s mother Alexis Schneider and Cassandra Marsicola.

Green, a self-employed barber, had recently received a large amount of federal aid money. About $5,000 remained.

Following the shooting when the gunman fled, the cash was gone.

The complaint against Crump states that he fled “immediately after the attempt or offense upon Yarnell Green.”

Modarelli requests the juvenule court to conduct a preliminary hearing to determine whether the case against Crump shall be transferred to Mahoning County Common Pleas Court “for purposes of prosecution.”

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