|
6 students face conspiracy charge in high school shooting
October 7, 1997
Web posted at: 7:38 p.m. EDT (2338 GMT)PEARL, Mississippi (CNN) -- Six teen-agers were charged Tuesday with murder conspiracy in connection with a shooting rampage last week at a high school that left two students dead and wounded seven others.
A lawyer for television station WLBT-TV in Jackson said he had obtained copies of affidavits that alleged the six plotted to kill students at the Pearl High School.
In addition, attorney Leonard Van Slyke said two of the suspects are accused of plotting in May to kill their fathers. The men were not killed.
Police have said the school shooting was carried out by a lone gunman -- a student -- arrested minutes after the shootings.
"We are still conducting an investigation," Police Chief Bill Slade said without elaboration. "That's all I can say."
Five of the six teen-agers arrested Tuesday, aged between 16 and 18, were students at Pearl High School where the shooting rampage took place October 1. The sixth person, 18, attends a local college.
All six pleaded innocent and were each jailed on $1 million bail.
Among those charged was a 16-year-old friend of the accused who was suspended from school Monday after he disrupted a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting. The same teen last week provided news organizations with a document he said was a confession letter by the student initially charged.
Police have said Luke Woodham, a 16-year-old sophomore distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend, walked into the crowded school last week, pulled a rifle and opened fire. He was arrested as he tried to drive off.
His former girlfriend was killed in the attack. A few hours before the shooting, police say, the teen stabbed his mother to death. He has since pleaded innocent to three counts of murder and seven counts of aggravated assault.
The two 18-year-olds arrested Tuesday were identified as Grant Boyett, who attends Hinds Community College, and Delbert Shaw. The others are juveniles.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Teen pleads innocent in high school shooting - October 2, 1997
- 2 dead, several wounded in high school shooting - October 1, 1997
|
Sound off on our message boards You said it... |
|
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.