STEM Trial Opens With DA Focused On Alleged Shooter's Failure To Warn Others, Defense …

When STEM School senior Devon Erickson brought several loaded guns to school on May 7, 2019, he had multiple opportunities to alert teachers or change his mind before the attack that killed and injured his fellow students, prosecutor George Brauchler told jurors on Thursday as the Erikson’s trial opened. Though Snapchat videos show that Erickson was pressured by his friend, Alec McKinney, to break open his parents’ gun safe and was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time, he had several interactions with other students, teachers and a nurse right before he went into the classroom, Brauchler said. “In this room is terror, in this room is every parent, every teacher’s worst nightmare. In this room are bullets, students’ blood and the body of a hero,” Brauchler said. “This plan was as diabolical as it was deadly.” Both prosecutors and Erickson’s defense lawyers made their opening arguments Thursday in the case against Erickson, now 20. Erickson faces 46 criminal charges in connection with the shooting, which killed fellow student Kendrick Castillo, and injured eight others. Brauchler accused Erickson of firing his gun four times before it jammed and he was taken down by several other students who,…
Read More