Teen suspect in Bronx school murder could be treated with kid gloves

The Bronx teenager accused of fatally shooting an innocent 16-year-old girl with a “ghost gun” could be treated with kid gloves by the legal system – so prosecutors took no chances on Monday.

The Bronx prosecutor’s office asked a judge for several days to present his arguments as to why 17-year-old Jeremiah Ryan should pass as a “juvenile delinquent” in the Supreme Court instead of being tried in family court as a juvenile.

While the possibility of Ryan being tried in family court is highly unlikely given the seriousness of the charges against him, there is too much at stake not to ensure prosecutors’ position is adamant, legal experts told The Post.

As a juvenile delinquent on the Supreme Court, Ryan would face up to 15 years in life in prison if convicted of the top charge against him, second-degree murder, they said. Had he been a year older, he would have faced the Supreme Court as an adult – and faced life behind bars for a maximum of 25 years.

But family court is a very different — and milder — scenario, the experts said.

If Ray were tried in family court as a juvenile, his potential murder conviction would be limited to five years in prison.

A route to family court in this case is highly unlikely, as the law would normally allow a 17-year-old defendant charged with a violent crime to remain in the Supreme Court if he or she displayed a weapon or caused “considerable bodily harm”.

Ryan’s case is back before the Supreme Court on Thursday, when prosecutors will present their arguments to keep him there.

Ryan’s attorney didn’t seek bail for his client on Monday, so the teenager will remain behind bars on Rikers Island, at least for now.

The young accused murderer wore a green long-sleeved sweatshirt over a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants for the trial. He didn’t speak.

His mother, who was in the courtroom, declined to comment.

Police say Ray fired six rounds from a 9mm Polymer 80 Ghost Cannon near University Prep Charter High School on Friday afternoon, fatally injuring Angellyh Yambo and two other passing students.

Ghost guns are untraceable weapons that can be assembled at home from parts bought online – and are a disturbing trend in town.

Ray – who law enforcement officials say has been suspected of helping local gangs hide guns since he was 12 – was arrested at his home nearby. Police officers arrested him after they allegedly saw him throw the gun in a garbage bag from the fourth-floor apartment.

He was charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon.

According to the NYPD, the department has seized 351 percent more ghost guns this year through Wednesday than it did in the same period last year — or 131 versus 29 of the guns.

Police are still conducting forensic tests on the ghost gun Ryan are said to have had to confirm it was the gun that killed Yambo – but detectives believe it is.