Teen denies charges in Ohio school shooting

The 14-year-old boy accused in Monday’s Ohio school shooting has entered a “not true” plea, the juvenile court equivalent of a not-guilty plea, reports said.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jonesidentified the teenas James Austin Hancock, according to media reports. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder,two counts of felonious assault, inducing panic and making terrorist threats.

The shooting occurred in the cafeteria of Madison Junior-Senior High School in Middletown, Ohio at around 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 29. The school went into lockdown, Fox News reported, and students described a chaotic scene afterward.

Four students, ages 14 and 15, were injured but all are expected to survive. Two were hit by bullets and the two others were hurt “either by shrapnel from the handgun or by injuries getting away from the active shooter,” authorities said, according to Fox News.

“I’m just thinking, ‘Little eighth-graders? With a gun? What are they doing with a gun?’ ” Madison student Zayd Ahmed said, CNN reported.

Tuesday’s hearing reportedly gave no clues of a motive and authorities said they do not know yet if the victims were random or targeted. There was no indication of whether prosecutors might seek to move the case to adult court.Defense attorney Ed Perry gave the denial of charges and a magistrate ordered for the suspect to remain in juvenile detention until an April 5 hearing.

Madison Local School District closed schools Tuesday as the staff prepared to “support our students when we return” CNN reported. Classes are set to resume Wednesday.