One murder count vs. 8-year-old dropped

ST. JOHN, Ariz., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- One of two murder counts against an 8-year-old Arizona boy accused of shooting his father and another man to death should be dropped, prosecutors say.

Authorities have asked a juvenile court to dismiss a charge that the boy killed his father. But a murder count against the boy in the shooting death of the second man -- a tenant in the boy's St. John home -- will remain, CNN reported Saturday.

Without issuing an explanation, Apache County Attorney Criss Candelaria filed a court motion Friday seeking dismissal of charges against the boy in the shooting of his father Vincent Romero, 29, "in the interest of justice."

Police said the boy has confessed to shooting both Romero and Tim Romans, 39, with a .22-caliber rifle Nov. 5. A video of a police interrogation of the boy appeared to show him confessing to his father's slaying after initially denying it, CNN said.

If the charge is dismissed by the court, it would leave open the possibility of re-filing it later. The boy's attorney has yet to file a plea, the broadcaster said.