Teen Accused Of STEM School Shooting Will Be Tried As Adult

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO — A teenager who is accused in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting will be tried as an adult, a Colorado judge ruled Wednesday. The 16-year-old's attorney pushed to have the case moved to juvenile court, but the motion was denied.

Alec McKinney, 16, is accused of murder in the May 7 attack. The teen faces dozens of charges.

Devon Erickson, 19, is also accused of murder in the attack, which left one student dead and eight others injured. A judge ruled in September that Erickson's case can proceed to trial.

Both teens walked into the school and opened fire, police said. Kendrick Ray Castillo, 18, who had only three days of school left before graduation, was killed in the shooting.

Douglas County District Court Judge Jeffrey K. Holmes said he denied McKinney's request to be transferred to juvenile court because of "the serious nature" of the accusations. Holmes said the charges will render "little difference between the procedures that will govern the progress of the case irrespective of its assignment" to juvenile or adult court.

McKinney's arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 16.

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