STEM School Highlands Ranch Shooting Suspect Devon Erickson To Stand Trial

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- A judge has ruled that one of two teens charged in a Highlands Ranch school shooting that killed one student and injured eight others will stand trial on all charges. Devon Erickson, 18, and Alec McKinney, 16, face murder and attempted murder counts in the May 7 shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch.

Police say the teens walked into the school and opened fire with handguns in two classrooms.

Student Kendrick Castillo, 18, was killed when he and two classmates tackled one of the shooters. The other was captured by an armed security guard. Castillo's parents attended the hearing in Castle Rock.

The lead detective in the case for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Brian Pereira, interviewed Erickson twice following the shooting.

He said the teen told him his goal was to "save as many lives as possible." But under questioning by the prosecution the detective indicated there was no evidence of any such attempt to save people.

Pereira said that Erickson told him he fired only one shot by accident striking the one person who died Kendrick Castillo. But the detective indicated there were multiple shots fired from Erickson's gun.

It was revealed that Erickson had "God" written on his chest at the time of his arrest. The words "the voices win" were found written in red ink in his parents' closet where the guns were taken for the shooting.

Pereira also told the court "F-Society," 666 and a pentagram were spray painted on a car in Erickson's family garage. That car was set on fire before the pair left the house for the school.

The detective said Erickson told him that his co-defendant Alec (birth name Maya McKinney) had someone in particular at the school to confront.

Both suspects have been charged as adults. McKinney's attorney wants his case moved to juvenile court.

The preliminary hearing continued Wednesday morning with redirect by the prosecution of Pereira. The judge issued the order on Wednesday afternoon. Erickson will remain in custody on  a no bond hold.

STORY NOTE: McKinney was born a female who identifies as male and prefers to be called Alec.