Grand jury returns attempted first-degree murder indictment for Asheville teen

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — An Asheville teen charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, first-degree kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, is now also charged with attempted first-degree murder.

A grand jury returned an indictment for the attempted murder charge against 17-year-old Patrick Koerschner this week.

All the charges are in connection with the June 25, 2018 shooting of 18-year-old Brittanie Andrews, who was left at an intersection near Biltmore Village. After the shooting police sought Koerschner as a suspect, calling the teen armed and dangerous.

Andrews said that Koerschner said he was taking her, via a hiking trail, to a drug dealer-friend so that she could buy a bag of marijuana. On the way there, Andrews said, she said Koerschner crouched down saying he had a cramp in his side.

Andrews says she was then shot from behind.

The 18-year-old also said she then convinced Koerschner to take her to the hospital. But she tells News 13 that when she saw Koerschner making a wrong turn, she got worried and jumped out of the car.

“He tried to keep me from jumping out of the car by leaning over and holding the door closed," Andrews said.

She was found at the intersection of McDowell and Short McDowell streets, where police responded to a report of a person with gunshot wounds.

Koerschner is being tried as an adult in this case.

Andrews tells News 13 she has no idea why she was shot.

According to arrest warrants, Koerschner is also accused of kidnapping Andrews, assaulting her with a gun, and stealing a 2008 Toyota Camry Solara, an iPhone, and $20 in cash.

View Andrews' account of the shooting here.

Sean Devereaux, the defense attorney representing Patrick Koerschner tells News 13 he agreed with Koerschner's parents to have the teen committed for a mental evaluation.