(CNN) -- A judge in Pennsylvania has denied a request from a 12-year-old homicide suspect to have his case transferred to juvenile court.

Jordan Brown is facing adult charges in the February 2009 shooting death of his father's pregnant girlfriend, and a judge turned down a petition to have the case transferred from criminal to juvenile court.

Police have said the boy, then 11, shot Kenzie Marie Houk, who was eight months' pregnant, once at point-blank range in her farmhouse in western Pennsylvania.

He has been charged with one count each of criminal homicide and homicide of an unborn child in the death of Houk, 26, Lawrence County District Attorney John Bongivengo said.

Houk's 4-year-old daughter found her mother in her bed, according to police. The child alerted landscapers working near the home, who then called authorities.

"This is something that you wouldn't even think of in your worst nightmare, that you'd have to charge an 11-year-old with homicide," Bongivengo told CNN affiliate WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh at the time of the killing. "It's heinous, the whole situation."

Under Pennsylvania law, anyone over 10 accused of murder or homicide is charged as an adult. If convicted, the boy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, Bongivengo said.

Authorities said the boy is the son of the victim's live-in boyfriend at the home in Wampum, about 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

"At this point, we don't believe it's accidental," Bongivengo said.

The weapon was a youth model 20-gauge shotgun, designed for use by children, that belonged to the boy, according to investigators.

Hang em high...I sure don't want an 12yr old psycho running free...sad for the father and pregnant girlfriend

life in prison is what he should get

I don't think two wrongs make a right. He is a boy, probably hasn't even gone thru puberty yet. He should not be sent to court as an adult.

To say an eleven year old knows right from wrong is very simplistic.

Yes, it is tragic, but like most tragedies, there is probably a very sick and twisted story behind it.

The boy is not necessarily pure evil.

I believe there are some criminals that are completely incorrigible, some that are ruthless, and some that deserve the death penalty for the heinous crimes they have committed.

But I wouldn't condemen a boy so quickly.

Damn! Ya'll got Lewis fired up. He is still a child. We seriously don't give up on our own like that? He wouldn't be running the streets. The young man needs help......

I agree, this same boy who hasnt hit puberty cannot give 'consent' to have sex but supposedly is all too mature to know the extent and consequence of death,,,, I think its another hypocritical law and I do hope the boy gets a fair trial, which considers his history(first offense, previous troubles at school?) as well as WHO gave him that gun in the first place,,,,

Children today are so different then we were as kids.I have no doubt that he knew what would b the end result of his actions.He shot her in her bed at point blank range,that gives me the chills.He was probably resentful of her and the coming baby in his fathers life.What he was probably counting on is his age to spare him any hard time-too bad he didn't know the laws of his state. The saddest victim is his father who lost three people he loves in a few moments.How do u go on after something like that?-sad.

If they are so different and aware,, perhaps we should change the age of consent laws as well....

Do you honestly think a child of that age could come up with "he was probably counting on is his age to spare him any hard time-too bad he didn't know the laws of his state". Really???....

All I am saying is that a kid of that age knows what a gun will do.I have dealt with kids in the justice system and have seen them try to manipulate that system.I don't mean to be cold-I just know they are way more devious than people think.I do not think he was thinking of consequences at all,but after it was over was probably not expecting to lose his freedom for life.

Hmmm...perhaps you'd like to help him??? He can live with you...perhaps you could take him hunting???

Of course he knows what a gun can do he was shown by somebody. A boy that age should not have access to a weapon like that. I understand your point I don't trust the little SOB's either. This just sounds like a failure at the adult level......

I'm not especially tolerant of criminals, but the boy, and I do mean BOY, does need help. There are ways to help him, besides trying him as an adult and locking him up for the rest of his life.

Do I want him to come and live with me? No. They have juvenile detention centers, equipped with staff and therapists, that get paid for helping these type of kids.

More than likely, video games and tv will get blamed for this...

Maybe I have just watched too much Law&Order.

Well its for sure the baby and old pass it around doesn't need the help , DO THEY !

designed for use by a child...seriously? there's a time and place for everything, and a shotgun in a child's hand...i just don't see that as necessary or right. what a tragedy.

tragic indeed...
he is a child no matter the crime..

Mmmm. I disagree, to some extent.


Nothing wrong with it, as long as it is supervised appropriately. I have a similar shotgun, that has been used and handed down for 4 generations. It is the gun we have all learned to hunt with, in my family. I went thru a hunter's safety course when I was 11 and started hunting when I was 12. It is not the gun or the gun manufacturer's fault.

Sounds as tho it is the adults in this child's life, that have failed him. I agree with you, he should not have had access to it, unsupervised. It should have been locked in a gun safe.

a reasonable and responsible answer! and i know there are avid hunters out there who do, even from generation to generation as you've stated, pass this down at an early age. it's a huge responsibility and i would hope everyone would follow your example. that's just not the case and that's when the doors to tragedy open. it's just not something i would personally consider for my children at that age.