“He murdered her in cold blood, and he is a cold-blooded killer.” Those are the words of Roland Salinas – strong words from a father as his 15-year old son stood in a courtroom, charged with the shooting death of his half-sister.

Sheldon Andrew Pruitt pleaded not guilty on August 13 to 2^nd -degree murder. Deputies say he pulled the trigger on the gun he was hiding in his home, killing 14-year old Alexandria Salinas.

Pruitt is free on bond, in the custody of his grandmother. Attending the hearing in Pima County Superior Court was Pruitt’s father, and he believes Pruitt not only should have stayed in jail until trial, but should remain locked up for the rest of his life.

Roland Salinas came to court, his daughter’s picture pinned to his chest in memory, to hear his son answer to the charges. “As a father, I have to have my son held accountable for what he did,” says Salinas. His act took my daughter’s precious life, and that will never be replaced.”

Salinas is the biological father of Sheldon Andrew Pruitt, who he calls Andrew. And Salinas does not believe the boy accidentally shot and killed his half-sister, Alexandria. “Andrew knew it was a loaded weapon,” says Salinas. “Andrew knew the consequences of pointing that gun at any person. And Andrew knew the consequences of pulling that trigger, and he chose to pull the trigger and kill my daughter.”

In court, Pruitt pleaded not guilty to 2^nd-degree murder. But his father believes the charges should be upgraded to 1^st -degree. Pruitt’s lawyer wouldn’t comment, but prominent local Defense Attorney Brick Storts says a case like this is never open and shut. When asked if it’s harder to convict a 15-year old in a case like this, Storts says, “I think it would be, yes.”

The 15-year old is charged in adult court. Storts says many more dynamics come into play when minors are charged as adults in cases as serious as this. “You of course have to get a good deal of psychological evaluation, see what his mental makeup and process was at the time the shooting took place,” he says.

Pruitt’s father says the boy was suffering from ADHD and depression, but a doctor recently decided he did not need to be under psychiatric care. Salinas believes it was an intentional killing that his son should pay for. “I would ask that he remains in prison for the rest of his life,” says Salinas.

Another interesting detail Salinas shared is that three days before the shooting, the boy’s mother in Colorado called to tell him they were missing a gun. Salinas says Pruitt denied having it, and they couldn’t find it despite searching extensively.

Salinas also added that his family is making it through this ordeal thanks to all of the community support they’ve received.