Jury selected for trial of STEM School shooting suspect
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The jury has been selected for one of the suspects involved in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting. Opening statements began immediately.
On May 7, 2019, two young men walked into a classroom and opened fire, killing Kendrick Castillo.
The youngest suspect, who was 16 at the time, pled guilty in February 2020 to 15 counts, including first-degree murder in the death of Kendrick Castillo. Alec McKinney was sentenced July 24, 2020, to life in prison plus 38 years.
Thursday, the Office of the District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, confirmed a jury was selected for Devon Erickson's murder trial, he was 18 at the time of the shooting. The jury consists of 12 people with four alternates.
Opening statements began at 3:20 p.m. Thursday. The defense and prosecution showed several videos of what happened inside the school, including security footage taken when shots were fired.
Jurors were shown videos of students running and heard audio from a 9-1-1 call from a teacher in the classroom next to where three students were shot.
Erickson pled not guilty. The defense portrayed him as a troubled teen, struggling with drug abuse, and was manipulated by Alec McKinney.
McKinney, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, pled guilty in February 2020 to 15 counts, including first-degree murder in the death of Castillo. He was sentenced in July 2020 to life in prison plus 38 years. He will be eligible for parole.
The defense also says Castillo's death was accidental, saying the gun went off when he was tackled.
The prosecution, however, claims he was a willing participant and the shooting was a calculated attack meant to kill dozens of students. They also say he purposely shot Castillo.
Both sides say they have evidence to support their claims. The trial is scheduled through June 25 in Douglas County District Court Div. 1.
The trial had been delayed twice due to COVID-19. Erickson faces 46 counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and 31 counts of attempted first-degree murder.
