Back in May, two students opened fire at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado, killing one student and wounding eight others. One of the suspects, Devon Erickson, was 18 at the time of the shooting and was always going to be tried as an adult. The other suspect, who was 16 at the time and went by the name Maya McKinney but has since changed their name to Alec McKinney, was initially transferred to juvenile court.

However, a Colorado judge has ruled that Alec McKinney will be tried as an adult. This is the same ruling that was given in the Waukesha South High School incident where a 17-year-old pointed what turned out to be a pellet gun at a classmate before being shot by a school resource officer.

I think trying juvenile suspects as adults in cases of extreme violence is appropriate. Too often the juvenile justice system acts as nothing more than a slap on the wrist for violent offenders. However, in the current social climate, I expect advocates for McKinney to push back against the ruling, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an appeal.

(Sources)
Denver Post