Two students take the stand for trial of STEM School shooting suspect

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Witnesses' testimonies began Friday in the trial of Devon Erickson, the suspect accused of shooting and killing a student at STEM School in Highlands Ranch.

Erickson, then 18, is accused of carrying out the On May 7, 2019, which left one student dead and eight others injured.

Friday, a student that witnessed the shooting took the stand. Brendon Bialy described how Erickson entered room 107 and pulled out a gun. According to Bialy, Kendrick Castillo jumped into action, pinning Erickson against a wall in the corner near a recycling bin in an attempt to disarm him. Baily said he and another student named Joshua Jones also helped.

Per 9News, Bialy said he didn't immediately know Castillo had been injured because he was too focused on trying to disarm the suspect.

"I had to take his fingers and pry them off the firearm," Bialy testified.

According to Bialy, once he was disarmed the suspect said he was sorry and "Alec made me do it."

The other student, Jones, who had been shot in the leg, called his parents while Bialy called 9-1-1.

Bialy said at this point Mike Pritchard, STEM Highlands Ranch IT Director, entered the room.

Pritchard also took the stand. He said he heard a struggle from his office, which was near room 107. In the hallway, he said he found two people wrestling, McKinney and another student. Pritchard said the suspect gave him the gun, saying the weapon was not his.

After disarming McKinney, Pritchard said he entered room 107 and found Jones lying on Erickson. Bialy was trying to help Castillo.

Pritchard testified Castillo was bleeding from his side, he was breathing and appeared to be struggling to say something.

"At that time he was responsive," Pritchard testified. "It was like he was trying to say something but it wasn't anything that I could actually understand."

A few moments later after administering aid, Pritchard said he could no longer find a pulse and Castillo stopped breathing. Roughly five to ten minutes later officers arrived and tried helping Castillo.

9News reports the final testimony of the day was from student Mitchell Krause.

Krause explained that a teacher asked him to take Erickson to the nurse's office. At one point he said the suspect asked if he should go back to get his things from the classroom, but Krause told him someone could grab his backpack for him if he needed it.

After dropping him off at the nurse's office, Krause said he returned to the classroom. A short while later the suspect came back to room 107.

Krause testified roughly a minute later he heard the suspect moving around and saw him stand up with a gun. Krause said he pointed the gun at students and said loudly "nobody (expletive) move."

Krause also testified he watched Castillo jump forward, but that's when he said his memory fades. The next thing Krause said he remembers was being facedown across the room.

"For a while, I thought I'm just going to stay here and play dead," Krause testified. "And something went through my mind and it just was the worst-case scenario. It was what if they just start going around and start shooting people in the head, execution-style. Playing dead won't work."

The next thing he did, Krause explained, was run. He said he continued running until he was across the street. That's when Krause said he felt that something was wrong. After feeling his back, he felt blood. He turned to a friend and asked if he had been shot, the friend said yes and helped Krause to the ground.

According to 9News, Krause teared up when he explained that he was terrified and pulled out his cell phone to call his mom.

"She picks up the phone and she answers in her cheery voice like everything's normal," Krause painfully testified. "Like 'hi Mitchell what's going on?' I just opened my mouth and the only thing I could manage to say was mom, help."

Krause testified saying someone in a nearby townhome helped get them inside while a TA with his friend explained what was happening over the phone to his mom.

According to Krause he had to undergo surgery for his injuries.

The judge called for evening recess before the defense was able to cross-examine Krause. Court is set to resume on Tuesday.

In addition to Bialy's, Pritchard's, and Krause's testimonies, the jury heard from an FBI Special Agent, a school nurse, and a high school office employee.

Read more on Friday's trial through our Denver affiliate 9News here.

Click here for opening statements that began on Thursday.

The trial is expected to last a month.