There’s enough evidence to send a 16-year-old to trial in the December murder of a policeman, a Michigan judge has ruled. Jonathan Belton is accused of shooting Oak Park, Michigan cop Mason Samborski with Samborski’s gun. The teen has pleaded not guilty in the murder. But police say he gunned down the officer after Samborski had pulled Belton over in a traffic stop. Belton was taken to a nearby apartment complex where a teen friend says he asked her to pretend they were siblings and let him into her unit, apparently so he could go free. The friend reportedly refused and, later, Samborski’s body was found lying in the apartment’s hallway. No details of a motive or what led to the killing have been made public. If convicted, Belton could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Youth could serve life if convicted of officer’s murder. The 16-year-old who police say killed an Oak Park, Mich. cop has been charged as an adult. Jonathan Belton allegedly shot officer Mason Samborski, 28, on Dec. 28 after Samborski stopped Belton for driving without a license. Oak Park cops insist that Samborski took Belton into the lot of an apartment complex to release him to an adult without arresting him. But what caused a struggle between the teen and Samborski before the officer was shot in the head is unknown. Belton turned himself in after the incident. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is being held without bond. Samborski, who was married and dad to a small daughter, was buried this week. Belton was first arraigned as a juvenile, but could now face life in prison if convicted.