Crucial hearing delayed for teen charged in Clovis McDonald's killing

The 17-year-old suspect faces a transfer hearing to adult court for the death of Caleb Quick.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A crucial hearing has been delayed for one of the teens accused in last year's deadly shooting at a Clovis McDonald's. The 17-year-old female suspect is charged with murder in juvenile court for the death of Caleb Quick. Prosecutors have been pushing to have the case tried in adult court, but the transfer hearing has now been pushed back to April 13 as the DA's office requested more time to prepare its expert witness.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around whether juvenile offenders accused of serious crimes should be tried as adults. The decision on whether to transfer the case to adult court could have significant implications for the teen suspect's potential sentence and future.

The details

The 17-year-old female suspect is charged with one count of murder in juvenile court for the death of Caleb Quick last April at a Clovis McDonald's. Prosecutors have been pushing to have the case moved to adult court, and a transfer hearing was originally set for early March. However, the hearing has now been pushed back to April 13 after the DA's office requested more time to prepare its expert witness. The teenage boy suspect in the shooting is charged separately and faces his own transfer hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

  • The deadly shooting occurred last April at a Clovis McDonald's.
  • The 17-year-old female suspect has been in custody for nearly 11 months without a hearing.
  • The transfer hearing for the female suspect is now scheduled for April 13, 2026.

The players

17-year-old female suspect

The teenage girl charged with one count of murder in juvenile court for the death of Caleb Quick.

Caleb Quick

The victim who was killed in the Clovis McDonald's shooting last April.

Jeff Hammerschmidt

The defense attorney for the 17-year-old female suspect, who objected to the delay in the transfer hearing.

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What they’re saying

“I think they've had long enough. And if there's a problem with April 13, at that point, she'll be 11 months in custody without a hearing. And so, at some point, that's just not fundamental fairness.”

— Jeff Hammerschmidt, Defense attorney (abc30.com)

What’s next

The judge is expected to schedule a transfer hearing for the teenage boy suspect when he returns to court later this month.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding whether juvenile offenders accused of serious crimes should be tried as adults. The delay in the transfer hearing for the female suspect raises concerns about due process and the rights of minors in the criminal justice system.