15-year-old accused of attacking Kaylee Gain won't be tried as adult, report says

ST. LOUIS (TND) — The 15-year-old girl charged with beating Missouri teenager Kaylee Gain will not be tried as an adult, according to KMOV.

Gain previously faced "significant" cognitive impairment after the March brawl. Viral video of the incident shows Gain convulsing on the ground after having her head smashed against pavement by her assailant.

A judge reportedly ruled Wednesday the teen accused of attacking Gain won’t be tried as an adult for the offense. A juvenile officer involved in the ruling shared a belief the 15-year-old could benefit from programs in the state’s juvenile system, according to KMOV.

Lawyers defending the 15-year-old reportedly leaned on her academic history, noting she gets good grades and has a stable home life. The student’s Spanish teacher reportedly attended a hearing to speak to her academic abilities.

A Change.org petition calling for the teen to be tried in the juvenile system has earned nearly 2,000 signatures since its launch in March. Gain’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment from The National Desk (TND) Thursday.

READ MORE |Kaylee Gain has 'improved considerably,' still has 'long road' to recovery, lawyer says

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in March said Gain's alleged attacker "should be charged and tried as an adult."

“This evil and complete disregard for human life has no place in Missouri, or anywhere,” Bailey said. “I am praying for the victim."

As part of her ongoing recovery from the attack, Gain now wears a “custom helmet” to protect her brain, according to her lawyer. While hospitalized, Gain underwent a procedure in which doctors removed a portion of her skull to relieve pressure on her brain.

Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.