Ga. teen charged in sword killing appears in court

(CBS/WGCL/AP) DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. - A Georgia teen charged as an adult in the killing of his great-grandmother with a Samurai sword made his first appearance in court Wednesday.

Gevin Allen Prince, 15, was charged with malice murder and four counts of aggravated assaults.

Investigators say Prince murdered Mary Joan Gibbs, 77, with a Samurai sword Monday after he was told to stop playing video games, reports CBS station WGCL.

Authorities also said he severely injured his grandmother, Laura Prince, 55, who is recovering from her injuries. He then reportedly chased two neighborhood boys around with the sword when they tried to help the women. The teens were not injured.

Police say they arrived to find Gibbs dead and Prince with the sword and a pellet rifle. Officers say he shot out the windows of a patrol car before surrendering.

Douglas County Sheriff Phil Miller said the teen had been arrested twice before for violent behavior. But he was later released from the juvenile justice system, despite the warning signs, reports WGCL.

"When people act out the way he acted out, those are the red flags and if we could have got to him the first or second time, maybe, somebody, a sweet lady would still be alive today," Miller reportedly said.

Prince will next undergo a mental competency exam, according to WGCL.

Prince will remain behind bars at the Douglas County jail.

If convicted, he does not face the death penalty.