The second suspect in the Colorado school shooting, Maya McKinney, was listed in court records as a 16-year-old female, but identifies as a male and prefers to be called Alec.
McKinney was shackled at the wrists and ankles Wednesday when he appeared in court and responded to the judge’s questions in a clear but quiet voice, saying, “Yes, your honor,” and, “No, your honor.” His mother sat at his side.
The teen’s lawyers asked that the pronoun “he” be used for their client.
District attorney George Brauchler said he hasn’t decided whether to file adult charges against McKinney, whose age is the youngest at which Colorado law allows prosecutors to file adult charges without a judge’s review.
McKinney is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and is due back in court Friday.
He and Devon Erickson, 18, are accused of fatally shooting one classmate and wounding eight others at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math School in Highlands Ranch outside Denver.
They were arrested after several students fought back under fire, including a young aspiring Marine, Brendan Bialy, who survived, and 18-year-old robotics enthusiast Kendrick Ray Castillo, who was killed.
With Post wires