Here in Virginia, what does it take to decide to charge a minor as an adult? Is that decision made by the police or does it require the DA or a Judge, or even a Grand Jury to determine the seriousness of the crime warrants treating the accused as an adult even though 15 is normally a minor?
"While most juvenile criminal offenses in Virginia are resolved entirely within the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDR Court), there are certain circumstances where cases are transferred and certified to the Circuit Court for resolution. Cases transferred and certified to Circuit Court result in the juvenile being tried as an adult, and resulting convictions can have substantial and lifelong effects on the juvenile."
http://www.livesaymyers.com/juveniles-tried-as-adults-virginia/