HAMILTON, Ohio -- Police say a 14-year-old girl "purposefully...attempted to kill her father," when she loaded a gun and shot him in the head Thursday.
Mariah Ponder was in court in Butler County Friday morning; the hearing was postponed so it could be moved to a bigger courtroom to accommodate emotional family members who wished to be present.
14-year-old Mariah Ponder's mother is in court for the hearing and appears very emotional @WCPO
— Briana Harper (@BrianaWCPO) February 24, 2017
Mariah is charged with aggravated murder in the death of her father, 71-year-old James Ponder.
Mariah called 911 just before 7 a.m. Thursday and told dispatchers she shot her dad.
"Can somebody come and put me in handcuffs? I just shot my dad," she said in the harrowing 911 call.
LISTEN: Teen admits to shooting dad in 911 call
Police said James Ponder was still alive when they arrived on the scene on Millville Avenue in Hamilton, but he later died.
Matt Fritsch Mariah Ponder's attorney asks there not be a rush to judgment about his client @WCPO pic.twitter.com/RWImGSeTok
— Jay Warren (@JayWarrenWCPO) February 24, 2017
Defense attorney Matt Fritsch said his client has no criminal record and asks the public to withhold judgment until the trial.
"It's a serious offense," Fritsch said. "It's something that we need to take our time and make sure we're getting all the necessary information."
The teen will remain in juvenile custody until her pre-trial hearing set for March 3.
