Joshua L. Stark is accused of shooting 13-year-old Dakota Back early Sunday morning. Back was an eighth-grader at Oskaloosa Middle School, and Stark is a student at Oskaloosa High School.

According to Jefferson County Sheriff Roy Dunnaway, Back was in his bedroom with three male friends when the shooting occurred about 2:55 a.m. Sunday. He was pronounced dead at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Stark is charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm by a juvenile, theft of a handgun valued at less than $500, underage consumption of alcohol, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. His next court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 13, said Vic Braden, assistant Jefferson County attorney.

The Sunday shooting was the third fatality involving guns in Jefferson County in the past five months. In November, the body of 14-year-old Camille Arfmann was discovered in a ditch. She had been shot to death, and her brother-in-law, Floyd Scott Bledsoe, was charged in the murder. He is scheduled to stand trial April 24 in Jefferson County District Court.

In October, Clarence E. Rinke, 55, was found shot to death in his southern Jefferson County home. Officials have not charged anyone in his murder.