HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – New details of how heroic students and a former U.S. Marine helped halt a suburban Denver school shooting emerged Wednesday as one of the accused shooters appeared before a judge, his shaggy, purple-streaked hair obscuring his face.
Authorities arrested Devon Erickson, 18, and a second suspect – a juvenile identified both as Maya McKinney and Alec McKinney – at the STEM School in Highlands Ranch on Tuesday afternoon.
Erickson, a student at the school, faces a murder charge and dozens of attempted murder charges in connection with the shooting that killed classmate Kendrick Ray Castillo, who is being hailed as a hero for confronting the shooters.
Authorities said Erickson and McKinney attacked two classrooms with handguns, killing Castillo, 18, and wounding eight. One of the shooters was disarmed and subdued by a former Marine working as a private security guard patrolling the school, his boss said.
Appearing in court 24 hours after the shooting, Erickson spoke only to acknowledge the judge’s questions, shaking his head or nodding at other times.
Prosecutors expect to formally charge him in the next several days, but they persuaded the judge to withhold much of the evidence in the case from public view while the initial investigation continues. Erickson is being held without bond and is due back in court Friday.
