Update on shooting at Marshall County High School [View all]

BENTON — A county prosecutor sought to head off criticism from his traumatized community on Wednesday as he explained why a 15-year-old charged with murder in the shootings of two classmates doesn't yet face attempted murder charges as well, even though more than a dozen other students have bullet wounds.

Instead, the preliminary charges for wounding the other classmates will be first-degree assault, Assistant Marshall County Attorney Jason Darnall said, stressing at a news conference that it carries the same penalty.

"The reason for that is based on information we have right now. Attempted murder is an offense which takes into account motive and specific intent," but why he did it is still being investigated. Assault, on the other hand, simply requires a "serious physical injury by means of a dangerous instrument," Darnall said.

The young man's handgun was dangerous enough to kill two classmates, wound 14 other students and seriously injure four more as hundreds of teenagers scrambled to escape. All the victims were between 14 and 18 years old, Kentucky State Police Detective Jody Cash said.

Read more: http://www.richmondregister.com/news/mother-school-shooting-took-life-of-a-perfect-sweet-soul/article_5d2afd16-0151-11e8-a4d5-efdec557b388.html