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Prosecutors Get More Time to File Colorado School Shooting Charges

The attack unfolded nearly three weeks after neighboring Littleton marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine attack that killed 13 people

Prosecutors investigating the case against two students suspected of shooting nine classmates, one fatally, in a suburban Denver charter school have until next week to decide what charges to pursue, a judge ruled Friday.

Meanwhile, all but one of those injured in the shooting have been released from hospitals, officials said.

District Judge Theresa Slade delayed hearings that had been scheduled for Friday for Devon Erickson, 18, and a 16-year-old whom the Douglas County sheriff said was female but whose attorney said uses male pronouns. They are suspects in the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch on Tuesday. NBC News is not identifying the juvenile suspect.

Court spokesman Rob McCallum said that both the prosecutors and defense agreed to a postponement until Wednesday.

Vikki Migoya, a spokeswoman for District Attorney George Brauchler, did not explain the reason for the delay.

The entire court file in the case is under seal. In an initial court appearance on Wednesday, Brauchler asked for a delay until Monday to file charges so that authorities would have the weekend to pursue their investigation.

The latest delay until Wednesday gives prosecutors more time to decide whether to charge the 16-year-old suspect as an adult. Colorado law permits prosecutors to file adult charges of serious felonies against 16- and 17-year-olds without prior approval from a judge.

Kendrick Castillo, the 18-year-old senior killed during the shooting, and two classmates at the school have been credited with helping thwart the attack by charging at one of the shooters when he entered a classroom. Authorities have said an armed private security guard restrained the second shooter.

Both suspects have been in jail since Tuesday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The two students walked into their school with handguns and opened fire in two classrooms, authorities said. Investigators have offered no motive and refused to discuss how the students obtained the weapons.

Student Joshua Jones told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday that he, Castillo and Brendan Bialy reacted as soon as they saw the gun.

"We rushed him," Jones said. "Kendrick pushed him against the wall. Me and Brendan grabbed him and threw him to the ground. I stayed on top of him while Brendan went off and tried to help Kendrick."

Jones said he never specifically thought how he would react in such a situation.

"When it actually happened, I had to make that decision that nobody should really ever have to make, which was run towards a gunman or run away from them. I chose to run towards them," he said.

Eight students were wounded. One remained hospitalized in fair condition Friday, and the others have been sent home.

The attack unfolded nearly three weeks after neighboring Littleton marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine attack that killed 13 people. The two schools are separated by about 7 miles south of Denver.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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