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Sheriff's office will ask state attorney to try teen murder suspect as an adult

The 16-year-old boy is charged with first-degree murder, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Update: WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Sheriff Grady Judd said Tuesday the Polk County Sheriff's Office will ask the state attorney's office to try a 16-year-old boy suspected of murder as an adult.

Dillen Murray is accused of beating Giovanni Diaz to death with a baseball bat on Monday afternoon at a wooded area near Coloosa and Lake boulevards in Lake Wales, Florida. Diaz was 15 years old.

Murray, 16, beat Diaz nine times over the head, according to the sheriff's office. Murray is also the one who called 911 on Monday claiming self-defense, according to Judd.

On Monday, Murray told Polk County sheriff's deputies the victim stuck him with the baseball bat in the forearm and in the face.

Judd called Murray's self-defense claim "an elaborate lie."

"We said some very basic things {to the suspect} like, 'we don't see any evidence that you got stuck in the face. We don't sit where you got hit on the forearm," Judd said. {There are} no bruises, {there are} no scratches, there's no any indication and finally, he told us the truth."

Murray is charged with first-degree murder, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judd said the crime was premeditated.

"Two days earlier, {Murray} told a witness, 'I wonder what it's like to kill somebody?'" Judd said.

On Tuesday, Judd showed photos of Murray's Facebook page, which included pictures of a bloody knife, a bloody clown and Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker.

"This is a kind of gives an image of what we believe is the way that he thought," Judd said. "We know that people's Facebook pages and their social media can show their real personalities, and we think that these photographs that he had on his Facebook page capture his personality very well."

Judd said the suspect had "jealousy and anger" against Diaz over a girl.

Murray has three batteries in his criminal history, according to Judd: two in October 2016 and one in April 2017 against his father. Diaz was also one of the victims in the suspect's October 2016 batteries, according to Judd.

Polk County Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd issued the following statement on Tuesday morning:

“Giovanni Diaz was a true joy to teach. He was happy and fun-loving, intelligent and analytical. He and his principal used to play a game at lunchtime. Giovanni had a Rubik’s Cube, and Principal Windham would mix up the colors and watch as Giovanni once again solved the puzzle. Giovanni had a very bright future ahead of him that ended brutally, senselessly, and much too soon. The Diaz family is in our hearts and prayers."

Watch: Click or tap here to watch Tuesday's news conference in its entirety

Watch: Teen charged with murder, accused of beating friend to death with baseball bat

Original Story: LAKE WALES, Fla. — A teenage boy accused of beating a 15-year-old boy to death with a baseball bat is now facing murder charges.

The 16-year-old boy is charged with first-degree murder, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The boy is accused of going into a wooded area near Caloosa and Lake boulevards in Lake Wales, Florida, and beating Giovanni Diaz, 15, to death Monday afternoon.

More: Sheriff Grady Judd: Teen beaten to death by friend with baseball bat

10News is not naming the suspect because he is a minor. 10News is working to confirm whether or not the 16-year-old boy will be charged as an adult.

Authorities are holding the boy in the Juvenile Assessment Center.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is expected to release more information Tuesday morning.

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