El Cajon, Calif. — An 18-year-old student accused of opening fire at his high school last week told a judge through a shattered jaw Monday that he was innocent of attempted murder and assault charges.
Jason Hoffman, who was shot in the face by a police officer Thursday, bowed his head and held a cloth to his face during the brief court appearance. He mumbled his plea without looking at the judge.
Public defender William Trainor said his client "is very emotionally upset about the events of the last few days."
The arraignment of another teen accused in an earlier, fatal school shooting was postponed.
Hoffman, a Granite Hills High School senior, is charged with attempted murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Police said he sought to kill a vice principal, who escaped harm.
Five people were wounded in the attack.
Hoffman could face from 44 years to life in prison if convicted. He will be held without bail pending a May 10 preliminary hearing.
Earlier Monday, arraignment was postponed for 15-year-old Andy Williams, who is accused of killing two classmates and wounding 13 people in a March 5 shooting spree at Santana High School, in nearby Santee.
The slightly built boy cast his eyes downward for most of the brief court appearance. His parents, who are divorced, sat side by side in the front row and his mother broke into tears upon seeing Williams.
Williams did not enter a plea.
Under a California law approved by voters last year, Williams automatically was sent to adult court for trial on two counts of murder, which could send him to prison for life. If Williams were to be convicted as a juvenile, he would face a minimum of 10 years in a youth facility.
Outside, relatives of one of the victims, Bryan Zuckor, expressed their opposition to moving the trial to juvenile court.
"The killer in this double murder, whether young or old, is not the victim," said Bryan's aunt, Carol Lynn Briens.
Hoffman's schoolmates, meanwhile, returned to Granite Hills High on Monday for the first day of classes since the shooting. Parents accompanied many students, walking them past patched-up bullet holes and new glass that replaced windows shattered by gun blasts.
Supt. Granger Ward said 93 percent of the 2,800 students, showed up.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.