Local

Judge rules teen accused of shooting, killing teen to stay in jail

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Monday a judge ruled a teenager accused of shooting and killing a 15-year-old will have to stay in jail.

Christopher Whitfield stood before a judge for the first time Monday morning.

Eyewitness News was in court with his family, who hoped for a different outcome.

Eyewitness News talked with three people who were in court to support the accused shooter. One of them identified herself as Whitefield's grandmother.

They were all in tears after his first appearance.

The court proceeding itself was quick. Whitfield, 19, was formally charged with first-degree murder and shooting into a vehicle.

The judge denied him bond and then asked if he wanted a court appointed attorney.

He said yes. Then he was escorted out of the courtroom.

Whitfield is accused in the shooting death of 15-year-old Mark Bostic Jr., a J.M. Robinson High School sophomore who was killed while riding in a car in Concord last Sunday.

Two others, brothers Corey and Marlon Banner, are charged in the case as well.

If convicted of first-degree murder, all of them could face the death penalty.

None of Whitfield's supporters would talk to Eyewitness News on camera.

His next court appearance is Nov. 20.