A 15-year-old boy who stands accused of a fatal shooting at Lamar High School in Arlington has been ordered by a Tarrant County Juvenile Court judge to remain in custody for another 10 business days.
The shooting occurred outside Lamar High School on March 20, resulting in the death of 16-year-old Ja’Shawn James Poirier and the injury of another student.
The accused, who has not been named, appeared in court alongside his great-aunt, who disclosed that the boy’s mother lives in Louisiana and could not attend the hearing.
The hearing was called to determine whether the accused would be released to the family. During the hearing, District Court Judge Alex Kim expressed concern for the safety of the community if the suspected shooter were to be released.
“I’m letting you know you are on the right track. I have released children for capital murder offense before, but I’ve got to be honest, it has taken months and months and months, because of the offense accused,” said Judge Kim, per Fox 4 News. “Based on the report that I’m getting I have to take this very, very seriously.”
When questioned about the teen’s potential mental health issues, the suspected shooter’s great-aunt stated that he “has some undiagnosed issues,” per NBC DFW. The defense attorney stated that the accused has no previous criminal history and has not used drugs. A request by the defense for a psychiatric evaluation was granted.
Judge Kim commended the accused for his good behavior during his time in custody and warned that his actions would be monitored and used against him in future detention hearings and his trial. The defense attorney stated that it is unclear whether the teen will be charged as an adult, per NBC DFW.
Judge Kim ultimately determined that the accused would remain in custody for at least another 10 business days due to concerns over community safety. The teen will have detention hearings every 10 business days as mandated by law, with the next hearing scheduled for April 21.
The suspect’s attorney, Lisa Herrick, has called the case “truly tragic” and has asked the public to reserve judgment until all the facts and circumstances have been revealed.
“This is truly a tragic situation all around, and that is not lost on him or any of us,” said Herrick when talking about the accused shooter, per Fox 4 News. “I have no reason to think that he intellectually doesn’t understand what’s happening, but are you asking if he appreciates the gravity of it? Yes.”
