Teen shooting suspect challenges Calif. law

San Diego County sheriff's deputies escort Andy Williams into a courthouse in El Cajon, California, on Monday

EL CAJON, California (CNN) -- A lawyer for the teen suspect in the first of two shootings at a San Diego-area high school challenged the law that brought him to an adult court Monday.

Charles Andrew "Andy" Williams, 15, is charged with killing two people and wounding 13 during a shooting spree at Santana High School in Santee, California, on March 5. Williams was charged as an adult under Proposition 21, a California ballot measure that became law last year.

"Proposition 21 has created laws that are frankly unconstitutional," Williams' lawyer, Randy Mize, said at the hearing Monday afternoon. "We believe the adult criminal system has no constitutional jurisdiction over this juvenile matter."

ALSO Reporting possible threat leads to legal woes for one child     MESSAGE BOARDS Violence in America School safety     RESOURCES List of injured Timeline of recent school shootings Risk factors for school violence Talking about school violence Gallup Poll: Parents on school shootings

Williams had been scheduled for arraignment on 28 criminal counts, including two accusations of murder with special circumstances and 13 counts of attempted and premeditated murder. Williams did not enter a plea Monday.

San Diego County Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhof put off arraignment until he can rule on the boy's request: Exarhof set a tentative April 27 date for a decision.

Deputy District Attorney Kristin Anton said the defense move was not likely to succeed.

"He's accused of committing the most serious of crimes -- multiple murder," she said. "It's a case where, traditionally, we would proceed to adult court."

Under Proposition 21, minors who are accused of certain crimes will automatically be treated as an adult. Previously, judges determined whether a young suspect should stand trial in adult court.

Also scheduled for arraignment Monday was Jason Hoffman, the 18-year-old accused of wounding five people Thursday at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon -- just six miles from Santana, and in the same school district.

Hoffman is accused of wounding three students and two teachers in last week's shooting. He faces four counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted premeditated murder, officials said.

Authorities still have no motive for the shooting, though El Cajon Police Chief James Davis confirmed that a vice principal was the target.

Hoffman, who was shot by an El Cajon police officer on the school's campus, was transferred Saturday evening to the San Diego County Jail after recovering from his wounds at the University of California at San Diego Medical Center.

School shooting suspect moved to county jail
March 25, 2001
Suspect rejected by Navy before school shooting
March 24, 2001
School shooting suspect to face attempted murder charge
March 23, 2001
Gun battle ends school shooting
March 22, 2001
Brian Palmer: Issues old and new confronting teens
March 9, 2001
An epidemic of violence
March 8, 2001
Terror, heroism fill high school hallways
March 8, 2001
The Secret Service's findings on school shootings
March 6, 2001

Granite Hills High School
San Diego County Sheriff

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.