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Champaign County Juvenile Judge Lori Reisinger ordered a competency hearing in the case at the request of the defense attorney. The competency hearing is to determine whether Serna can understand court proceedings and if he will be able to assist in his own defense.
The defense also requested Serna be released to his mother, who was determined to be his legal guardian Friday. Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi said he wanted Serna to stay in juvenile detention because he believes he’s a danger to himself and others.
READ MORE: West Liberty seeks mental health help after school shooting
Reisinger agreed with Talebi, saying that she believed the shooting took “significant planning and believes it is best he remains at the Central Ohio Youth Center at this time.”
ORIGINAL POST: The Champaign County Family Court will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. today on the suspect accused in the West Liberty-Salem High School shooting.
Ely Serna, 17, has been accused of shooting two students and firing several other shotgun shots in a restroom and hallway of West Liberty-Salem High School on Jan. 20.
He faces numerous charges, including two counts of attempted murder; three counts of felonious assault; six counts of improperly discharging a firearm; and single counts of inducing panic and illegal conveyance of a deadly weapon in a school, according to the county prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutors are seeking to try Ely Ray Serna as an adult.
Serna was taken into custody the morning of the shooting and has been held in a juvenile detention center.
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