News-Chronicle
A Green Bay teenager accused of shooting a 17-year-old boy twice in the shoulder in Eastman park pleaded not guilty Thursday to the charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
According to a criminal complaint, Ger Thao confronted the victim the day before the shooting and accused the boy's parents of harassing him.
Still angry with the teenager the following day, Thao allegedly grabbed a .22-caliber handgun and rode around town on his bike looking for the victim. When he found the 17-year-old hanging out with some friends in Eastman Park, he swore at the teenager and shot him in the back, the complaint said.
At a hearing in July, Thao's defense attorney raised doubts about his mental competency to stand trial based on a history of attention deficit disorder and a documented learning disability. He said Thao was enrolled in East High School's special education program, where Thao was labeled as having mild mental retardation.
A psychologist's report filed with the court in August found Thao competent to stand trial. He is scheduled to be tried for the charge on Dec. 9, 2003.