Teen Charged In Death Of Classmate

A 15-year-old boy was charged with second-degree murder Friday in the death of one of two students he is accused of gunning down inside his high school.

John Jason McLaughlin, a freshman, was charged as a juvenile in the Wednesday morning shootings at Rocori High School in Cold Spring.

Senior Aaron Rollins died in the attack. Freshman Seth Bartell, 14, remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday with gunshot wounds to the chest and head.

McLaughlin's family issued a statement expressing their "deepest sympathy" for the victims and their families. "The devastation that has been caused is irreparable," the statement said.

Dan Eller, McLaughlin's attorney, said the teen is "sort of overwhelmed by everything."

"It's just difficult for him to understand how it happened," Eller said.

Because McLaughlin was charged as a juvenile, the hearing was closed, but Eller confirmed that second-degree murder was among the charges filed against him. He said the state attorney general's office had filed papers to have him charged as an adult.

Attorney General Mike Hatch's office will prosecute the case at the request of Stearns County, said Hatch spokeswoman Leslie Sandberg. She said she could not provide further details about the charges or confirm any effort to have him tried as an adult because he is in the juvenile court system.

Investigators on Thursday gave their first detailed description of what took place in the school gym the morning of the attack.

The suspect was walking out of a locker room when he pulled a .22-caliber gun from a gym bag and fired two shots, hitting the victims, said Tim O'Malley of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Bartell got up the stairs. The shooter followed and fired again, O'Malley said.

At that point, Mark Johnson, a 27-year teacher and coach, confronted the teen. The student raised the gun and Johnson raised his right hand and shouted "No!"

The shooter emptied the bullets from his gun and dropped it before Johnson grabbed the weapon and hustled the boy to the school office.

"Very quiet," Johnson said. "Didn't say a word. As I escorted him to the office, didn't say one word. He came with me very willingly."

O'Malley said it did not appear the suspect was intent on a Columbine-style massacre. It wasn't clear whether the shooter knew the victims, and authorities refused to identify a motive.

Friday morning, students returned to classes at Rocori High School, about 60 miles northwest of Minneapolis, for the first time since the shootings. Dozens of adults lined the sidewalk and applauded as the students walked in.

"They're trying to reach out to the kids," said Ryan Gort, 34. "We missed one, and we don't want to miss any more."

A banner by the front door read, "Aaron we'll miss you." Flowers stood at its base and a photo of each of the victims was attached to posterboard.

Several students said they appreciated the show of support.

"I think we are coming closer together," said Elizabeth Kinzer, 17. "I think the picking on people will stop and I think we'll all become closer."