Boy Denies Charges in Father's Shooting Death

An 11-year-old Kalispell boy charged with shooting his father to death has denied mitigated deliberate homicide charges.

District Judge Ted Lympus on Monday approved a request by public defenders for Joshua Gretsch that he be sent to a children’s psychiatric hospital in Helena for evaluation and treatment.

Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan says the boy also needs to be evaluated to determine if he is competent to face the charges against him.

Gretsch is charged with shooting 47-year-old Patrick Gretsch to death on May 4. The boy’s mother told investigators her son shot his father to protect her.

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