Juvenile charged with murder after Harrodsburg teen found shot to death

A juvenile was charged with murder Thursday less than 24 hours after a Harrodsburg teen was found dead off a road in rural Mercer County.

The body of Tristan Cole, 17, was found off Deep Creek Road about 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to Kentucky State Police. Cole had been shot and left at the scene, police said.

In addition to murder, the juvenile was charged with first-degree robbery, trooper Robert Purdy said.

The juvenile is accused of taking personal property and shooting Cole on Tuesday night, state police said.

The area where Cole was found was “fairly close” to the roadway around the 1600 block of Deep Creek Road, Purdy said. He said the person who found Cole isn’t thought to have known him.

Police haven’t said how long Cole had been dead when he was found or how he had been injured. The Mercer County coroner directed questions to state police.

Cole had not been reported missing before his body was found, Purdy said.

Although a Mercer County school district spokeswoman would not confirm Cole was a junior at Mercer County Senior High School, she said the school would have counselors available during a “very difficult time” for students.

An autopsy was to be performed Thursday; Purdy said it probably would be several days before results were available.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 859-623-2404 or 1-800-222-5555.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Juvenile charged with murder after Harrodsburg teen found shot to death."