The male teenager charged with the June 2023 homicide of 16-year-old Gay Mee Paw appeared in adult court for an arraignment on Tuesday and is currently being held on no bond.
Jeremiah T. Byrd, now 17, is charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a handgun by a minor. Byrd, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, pleaded not guilty during Tuesday’s arrangement.
Court records show that Byrd’s bond was previously set at $1 million, but on Tuesday it was changed to no bond (meaning he currently is not allowed to post bail and is not eligible for release from jail). He is being held at the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center.
A pretrial conference has been scheduled for April 25, 2024. The case is being heard by Circuit Judge Lisa Jones.
First Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Van Meter confirmed the facts of the arraignment but could not comment on the case because it is still pending.
The shooting took place at approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 21 near Ben Hawes Park. A suspect was arrested that evening. Per state law, the identity of a juvenile involved in a crime can not be released until their first appearance in adult court.
On November 22, Daviess County Attorney John Burlew announced the suspect had been transferred to adult court for a possible indictment by a Daviess County Grand Jury, and that the bond had been set at $1 million. However, Byrd’s identity could still not be revealed until Tuesday’s arraignment.
DCSO has previously said a second male juvenile — this one 17 years old at the time of the shooting — had been charged in connection to the homicide. DCSO said charges included tampering with physical evidence, possession of a handgun by a minor, and unlawfully providing/permitting a minor to possess a handgun. Burlew previously said the second juvenile did not actively use the firearm against another person in any of their offenses, making them ineligible to be tried as an adult.
