CASTLE ROCK – Court records show both suspects in the May 7 shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch face 48 charges, and the 16-year-old suspect will be charged as an adult.
The accused gunmen, 18-year-old Devon Erickson and 16-year-old Alec McKinney, were arrested at the school and investigators say they opened fire inside using handguns.
Unlike his initial court appearance last week, Erickson appeared more involved in Wednesday’s proceedings. While he looked down with his face hidden by his dyed hair before, Erickson’s face was visible in the latest proceeding and he looked forward toward the judge while attorneys discussed the case.
He wore a jail uniform and was kept shackled at his wrists and ankles after Judge Theresa Slade denied a motion to remove them.
Court documents in the case are sealed. Slade denied the prosecution’s request to make some of the documents public but said she will address the issue at the next hearing on June 7.
The 18-year-old suspect was originally booked on one count of first-degree murder and 29 counts of attempted first-degree murder.
One student, 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo, was killed in the attack as he lunged for one of the suspects. Eight others were wounded. The last student wounded in the shooting was released from the hospital last weekend.
The hearing is happening on the same day that the community will remember the life and heroic actions of Castillo in a funeral service on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
News5 will live stream the service.
Castillo and the 18-year-old suspect were set to have their last day of school three days after the shooting took place.
