A 17-year-old accused of shooting his father in the back of the head will be tried as an adult on attempted murder charges, Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert said Monday.

Ebert said the decision to prosecute a minor as an adult is made based on the defendent's background and the severity of the charges.

Ebert said his office has also requested that two other teenagers in a separate case, who are accused of plotting to murder family members, be tried as adults as well. In that case, Ebert said the court will make a decision whether to try the 16-year-old and 17-year-old defendents as adults.

"Both of these crimes are pretty egregious," Ebert said. "That usually qualifies them to be certified as adults."