The suspect in last week?s shooting at Taft Union High School is being charged as an adult, District Attorney Lisa Green said at a Monday morning news conference.
Suspect Bryan Oliver, 16, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault with a firearm in the wounding of one student and the targeting of another, and one count of assault with a firearm in the wounding of teacher Ryan Heber, the district attorney said.
?Every shooting at a school is difficult,? Green said of prosecutors? work. She said the case was approached like any other high-profile case, and she is comfortable with prosecutors? decision.
While sheriff?s deputies continue gathering evidence, Green said, ?We feel we have been given a very thorough briefing.?
By law, a case had to be filed by 9 a.m. Monday. The suspect remains in juvenile hall after authorities said he showed up late to his first-period science class Thursday and opened fire with a shotgun, critically wounding Bowe Cleveland, 16. Cleveland was airlifted to Kern Medical Center and underwent surgery last week for wounds to his abdomen and chest.
Authorities said the second attempted murder count was related to classmate Jacob Nichols. Witnesses told police and reporters after the shooting Thursday that Oliver asked about Nichols? whereabouts as he waved his shotgun in the classroom.
Green also confirmed that the gun used in the shooting belongs to the defendant?s brother. It?s not yet known if he will face any charges, Green said, as deputies continue to investigate that aspect of the case.
She declined to provide any details about the day of the shooting, saying she didn?t want to hurt her case against Oliver, nor risk an order for a change of venue. A Monday afternoon news conference that was to have included staff and faculty who were on the scene Thursday was canceled for that reason.
Green would not confirm or deny reports that Oliver had drawn up a hit list of intended targets last year, but cited premeditation as one of the factors in the decision to charge Oliver as an adult, as well as Oliver?s age and the extent of Cleveland?s injuries.
Oliver is to be arraigned in court Monday afternoon.
Classes remained closed at the school Monday as the community of Taft took advantage of counseling that has been available on campus since last week and tried to make sense of the violence.
There were tears, hugs and prayers at a vigil Friday at A Street Park. Students and teachers repeatedly said the tragedy had brought the community closer, and vowed not to be cowed by fear.
Media from all over the world have been following the case, and the small city of about 9,464 is finding the international spotlight unnerving but doing its best to return to a normal routine, albeit with tighter security around school campuses.
Schools throughout Kern County had already been reviewing safety policies in the wake of December?s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults were killed.
That incident has renewed a national debate about gun control, and Congress is sorting through various proposals ranging from banning assault rifles to regulating the sale of ammunition. Gun ownership groups oppose those efforts and are calling for armed guards on school campuses and better mental health screening.
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