ROCKVILLE, Md. (7News) — A 16yearold charged as an adult with attempted murder in Monday’s shooting inside Wootton High School will remain locked up after a judge ordered he be held without bond following a brief court hearing Wednesday.
Kayhlil WhiteVillatoro appeared in Montgomery County District Court with his attorney, while his mother left the courthouse without commenting. His attorney offered only a short statement, saying the teen is “innocent until proven guilty” and that “justice will be served.”
RELATED | A push to prioritize safety in Montgomery County schools after Wootton shooting
During the hearing, a public defender requested that WhiteVillatoro be transferred to a juvenile detention facility and suggested the shooting victim may have been the initial aggressor.
Prosecutors pushed back, arguing the teen poses a danger to the community. They said WhiteVillatoro brought a loaded gun into Wootton High School, threatened a female student, and then shot a 16yearold male student in the torso.
The victim remains hospitalized and is expected to undergo multiple surgeries, according to prosecutors. His grandmother attended the hearing but declined to speak afterward.
Expert talks about school safety:
{ }A national school safety expert explained safety concerns following a shooting at Wootton High School in Maryland on Monday.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy used the moment to renew criticism of the county’s decision several years ago to remove school resource officers from campuses.
“It was a terrible mistake to take the SROs out of our schools,” McCarthy said. “We’ve had two shootings here in Montgomery County in our schools since SROs were removed. I hope and pray that we will make the investment again as a community to bring those police officers back.”
WhiteVillatoro is scheduled to return to court later this month
Local Story
