Jackson, Mich. (WKHM) — The man who fatally shot a 16-year-old in the head in Blackman Township during the early morning hours of June 4 of this year will be heading to trial in Jackson County Circuit Court.

22-year-old Julian Powell will face charges of Second Degree Murder and Felony Firearm, which were the charges that Jackson County Prosecutor Kelsey Guernsey sought after. The conclusion of the preliminary exam heard by Judge Robert Gaecke saw Powell’s defense attorney attempt to lower the charge to Involuntary Manslaughter, saying that while it was a matter of fact that Powell fired the shot that ended the life of Tae’Sean Bartkowiak, it was not done with the intent to kill.

The defense argued that prior witness testimony of Powell drunkenly playing with the gun and the close relationship between him and Bartkowiak supported the idea that Powell had no intentions of killing the teenager.

Prosecutor Guernsey then argued that a 2nd-Degree Murder charge covers different levels of intent, including causing someone’s death by behaving in a way in which their death was a likely outcome. She pointed out that the single revolver style gun required the hammer to be manually cocked back and the trigger to be manually squeezed, arguing those actions showed a reckless disregard for Bartkowiak’s life.

Judge Gaecke ultimately determined that the charge of 2nd-Degree Murder was appropriate for Powell’s trial, saying that it will be up to a jury to determine whether or not Powell’s actions meet the charge.

Powell remains lodged at the Jackson County Jail, and all future court proceedings in this case will be heard by Judge Thomas Wilson in Circuit Court.