COLONIE — Two Amsterdam teenagers were charged Friday with gunning down two missing youths police found shot to death in a field in Montgomery County.

Anthony Brasmeister, 16, and a 15-year-old male whose name was withheld due to his age, were charged with second-degree murder on allegations they killed Paul Damphier, 16, and Jonathan DeJesus, 13, both of Amsterdam.

Investigators said both victims were shot in the torso area in a field in the town of Florida. The weapon was a long-armed rifle.

The unidentified teen — considered the "prime suspect" and shooter — is being charged as a juvenile offender, James told reporters at a news conference by troopers and Amsterdam police Friday afternoon outside Troop G headquarters in Loudonville.

He indicated the defendants made incriminating statements to police.

"We do have admissions that were made that weren't within these individuals self-interests," James told reporter.

The victims were last seen alive on July 9 when Damphier's mother dropped the youths off at a home on Vanderveer Street, she told police. Neither had been seen since.

James said the four teens were "known to each other," but stopped short of identifying a motive.

When asked by reporters, James said police were familiar with one of the defendants.

"Obviously there was some disconnect between the parties involved," James said. "Is there some interest or some concern that it had some relation to marijuana? We're still pursuing that angle. That's a viable angle, but it wouldn't be appropriate to discuss."

James said evidence shows the victims were shot where they were found. One of the two defendants arrested had a residential connection to the area where the victims were shot.

"These two victims just didn't go out there by happenstance," James said. "They had an affiliation with the defendants."

Asked if the two teenagers arrested lured the victims to the scene, he said, "That is an aspect that we're pursuing.' Asked if the crime was premeditated, he said, "We won't rule that out."

When asked if either defendant had gang ties, James said, "We're looking at that. That's got probability."

On June 10, he said, Damphier and DeJesus were reported missing to Amsterdam police. On July 19, following what the captain described as an intensive investigation, Amsterdam police learned the two bodies were in a field adjacent to Snooks Corners Road in the town of Florida. He said physical evidence was found at the scene, including guns and ammunition.

Amsterdam police Detective Lt. Kurt Conroy said police were still receiving leads as to the whereabouts of the victims as of Thursday night.

Amsterdam Police Chief Gregory Culick said the families of the victims were devastated upon hearing the horrific news their loved ones were dead.

"How could you not be?" he asked. "You're thinking your son (DeJesus) is going to start high school next year ... absolutely senseless. What happened to the days when people just duke it out or something? If there's an issue over this — if it was over marijuana, if there was money issues — go battle it out like kids maybe used to. To kill somebody over it? There's a disconnect. Somewhere this kid (the shooter) disconnected from society, to think that people are disposable like this."