UPDATE (Jan. 3)—Postponed Hearing Could Delay Accused Perry Hall Student Shooter's Trial - http://patch.com/A-0MZF.
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The student accused of opening fire inside Perry Hall High School's cafeteria is requesting to be tried as a juvenile in Baltimore County Circuit Court.
Judge Robert Cahill, Jr. is expected to make a final decision about whether 15-year-old Robert W. Gladden, Jr. should be tried as an adult during a juvenile waiver hearing on Jan. 3, Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney John Cox confirmed.
A previous juvenile waiver hearing was scheduled for Nov. 30, but canceled. Gladden's criminal trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 30.
"We intend to argue that he remain in adult court," Cox said, adding that the judge will factor age and available treatment programs in his decision. If tried as a juvenile, Gladden could face significantly less jailtime and media scrutiny.
Gladden was charged as an adult with nine counts of first-degree attempted murder, among other charges, in the Aug. 27 shooting.
Investigators said he brought a disassembled double-barrel shotgun and a bottle of vodka in his backpack on the first day of school. During the first scheduled lunch, he allegedly randomly opened fire in the cafeteria, striking and seriously injuring 17-year-old special needs student Daniel Borowy. Staff members stopped the attack by tackling Gladden and holding him until he was arrested, police said.
The incident caused a national outcry and several charitable and memorial events have followed.
Months after the shooting, Gladden remains at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Cox said. He appeared in a bail review hearing in September, but was denied bail pending a mental evaluation. A new hearing was not scheduled.
Gladden was formerly represented by both Columbia attorney Clarke Ahlers and Lutherville attorney George Psoras. Ahlers's office confirmed, however, that he is no longer involved in the case.
Psoras's office was not immediately available for comment on Gladden's scheduled juvenile waiver hearing.
Days after the shooting, Psoras told the Associated Press that Gladden was a victim of bullying and never intended to harm other students when he brought a gun to school.
Police previously denied these claims, announcing that bullying was not believed to be a factor and that Gladden acted deliberately.
Letting him off with anything less than years behind bars will simply lead other young juveniles to believe they can act in the same way, knowing the punishment won't be harsh. I'm sorry, but this 'kid' should be penalized to the fullest extent of his actions. If he was dumb enough to take a loaded shotgun and alcohol to school, he certainly knows what could, and subsequently did, happen from his potential actions. He should be behind bars for years, and whomever allowed him to gain access to the weapon and alcohol should be held and charged with accessory to attempted murder, as well.
But if he was impaired, will the court find him responsible for the shooting?
Three juveniles have been arrested and two will be charged as adults in connection with a Tuesday night robbery in the Loch Raven Village area. The juveniles, whose identities have not been released pending a hearing before the bail commissioner, are charged with armed robbery. Around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 8, police responded to a robbery call. The victim told them he exited the McDonald's store in the 6800-block of Loch Raven Boulevard and was walking through the parking lot of a nearby Rite Aid store when he noticed three people following him, according to police spokeswoman Cpl. Cathleen Batton. One of the men displayed a handgun, and the victim turned over cash, a cheeseburger, cigarettes and a lighter. The robbers then fled, and the victim ran to a nearby Giant grocery store where he asked a worker to call 911, Batton said. Police searched the area and arrested three juveniles, a 13-year-old, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, Batton said. Investigation revealed the gun used in the robbery to be a BB gun, Batton said. These teens didn't shoot anyone. Robert Gladden did !!! I'm sorry but he almost Killed someone or it could of been many !! He knows better not to bring a gun or alcohol to school ! He is in 10 th grade come on. He didn't just fall of the moon. BCPS inforces rules and regulations every year since pre-k.There's no excuse for his actions.
I hope that all parties have learned and will heal...