A District Court judge ordered that the 16-year-old boy charged in the shooting of a fellow student at Wootton High School remain held without bond in an adult facility, citing the use of a ghost gun and the seriousness of the alleged attacks.
The Wednesday order came down just two days after the suspect in custody allegedly fired the weapon, injuring his classmate.
The ghost gun that was used in the Monday shooting is an untraceable firearm with no serial number, according to Rockville Police, a point that was reiterated by the prosecution and judge during the bond hearing. In addition, police said Tuesday that the suspect pointed a gun at another student —- a 15-year-old girl — before firing the weapon at the victim, a 16-year-old boy.
The defense requested that the suspect, who is charged as an adult, be moved to a juvenile facility. They said the shooting was a contained situation between two people, and that holding him in a juvenile facility is no less serious than an adult one. The defense also suggested that the defendant may not have been the main aggressor.
The judge rejected the request, noting that the suspect made deliberate decisions to obtain the weapon and used it, not once, but twice.
The suspect has been charged as an adult with attempted second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and firearms-related charges, according to police.
The victim is still in the hospital undergoing surgery, according to the prosecution.
A preliminary hearing for the defendant is set for Feb. 20.
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