Teenage boys 'lured girl, 14, into an ambush by promising to sell her a knife then shot her in the head and left her for dead in a ditch' 

  • Deserae Turner, from Amalga, Utah, was found in a dry canal on Friday
  • She remains in critical condition after being placed in medically induced coma
  • Two 16-year-old boys have been charged with attempted aggravated murder
  • They allegedly plotted to ambush her, kill her and steal her belongings
  • Prospects said a suspect kept the shell casing on his windowsill as a 'memento' 

By Emily Chan For Mailonline

Published: 19:58 EDT, 21 February 2017 | Updated: 08:17 EDT, 22 February 2017

Two teenage boys have been charged with shooting a 14-year-old girl in the head after luring her to the spot by promising to sell her a knife.

Deserae Turner, from Amalga, Utah, was reported missing on Thursday evening when she did not return from school.

She was found wounded in a dry canal in the town of Smithfield early on Friday and is fighting for her life in a medically induced coma.

Police believe the two 16-year-old boys lured her to the spot with a plan of robbing and killing her.

Deserae Turner, 14, from Amalga, Utah, was found critically injured in a dry canal early on Friday
The teenager was reported missing on Thursday evening when she did not return from school

Deserae Turner, 14,(left and right) from Amalga, Utah, was found critically injured in a dry canal early on Friday. Two teenage boys allegedly lured her to the remote spot by promising to sell her a knife

The teenagers are accused of setting up a meeting with Deserae, a student at North Cache Middle School, so they could sell her the weapon.

They are believed to have originally planned to stab her, according to charging documents.

Prosecutors say that after they arrived, one boy decided instead to use a gun he had brought and shot the girl.

The pair are accused of taking $55 from her purse, tossing her backpack in a trash bin and destroying her cellphone and iPod.

Prosecutors say the teenager who brought the gun gave the spent shell casing to the other boy when he asked to keep it 'as a memento'. 

Officers later found it displayed on his bedroom windowsill, KSL reported. 

Investigators said one teenager told police that greed made them do it.

The suspects have not been named because they are under the age of 18.

A spokesman for Deserae's family, Jill Parker, said: 'She is in the fight of her life right now.

'We know that our Father in Heaven is watching over her and all of us have been touched by her.

Two 16-year-old boys have been charged with shooting the teenager, a student at North Cache Middle School. Investigators are seen scouring the area where she was found

Two 16-year-old boys have been charged with shooting the teenager, a student at North Cache Middle School. Investigators are seen scouring the area where she was found

Prosecutors say that after they arrived, one boy decided instead to use a gun he had brought and shot the girl. Crime scene tape surrounds the area where she was discovered with a gunshot wound to her head 

Prosecutors say that after they arrived, one boy decided instead to use a gun he had brought and shot the girl. Crime scene tape surrounds the area where she was discovered with a gunshot wound to her head 

'We know that He hears and answers prayers, and we can see His hand at work as Deserae continues to make progress. We ask that you continue to respect our privacy at this time.'  

The teenager who took the casing home told officers that he saw his friend shoot a girl he did not know, according to police. 

But investigators say text messages between the boys indicate they planned the robbery and shooting together.

Police said one of the boys wrote an apology to  Deserae's family, reportedly reading: 'I am so so so sorry.'

The boys were charged with six counts each, including attempted aggravated murder, robbery and obstruction of justice. 

Cache County Attorney James Swink said he wants to try the boys as adults.

Friends have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Deserae's family.

Baylee Nikole Hardy posted: 'Deserae is going through a very hard battle! Every little bit will help their poor family with their ongoing family expenses as they go through this tough battle! Please keep them in your prayers!' 

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