Teen suspects in 2 school shootings appear in court

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

In this story: Santana shooting Hoffman's mother can't explain shooting RELATED STORIES, SITES

EL CAJON, California (CNN) -- Teen suspects in two school shootings near San Diego appeared in court Monday before the same judge, who delayed action on the younger suspect until the court determines whether he should be tried as an adult.

In the second case, Jason Hoffman, 18, accused in the non-fatal shootings of three students and two teachers at Granite Hills High School in El Cajon last week plead not guilty to a count of attempted premeditated murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon in El Cajon Superior Court.

During his four-minute court appearance before San Diego County Superior Court Judge Herbert J. Exarhos, Hoffman sat next to his lawyer with his head bowed. A preliminary examination was set for May 10.

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

Santana shooting

In the case of the fatal shootings at Santana High School in the adjacent community of Santee, Exarhos said he will rule April 27 whether 15-year-old Charles Andrew Williams should be tried as an adult on as many as 28 charges, including murder and attempted murder.

In a brief hearing, Williams' lead attorney said he will argue the case should be moved to juvenile court.

"We believe that the adult criminal system has no constitutional jurisdiction over this juvenile matter," said Public Defender Randy Mize.

Williams was charged as an adult under provisions of recently approved Proposition 21. Attorneys on both sides said the proposition's requirements for handling juveniles accused of certain violent crimes as adults have not been tested in court.

Williams is accused of killing two students with his father's .22-caliber pistol and wounding 13 others, including two adults, in a March 5 shooting spree that began in a boy's restroom and apparently stemmed from his anger with school officials over disciplinary matters.

Exarhos delayed Williams' arraignment, giving defense attorneys until Friday to file objections and prosecutors until April 15 to respond. He scheduled a hearing for April 20 and expects to rule April 27.

Hoffman's mother can't explain shooting

Hoffman, whose rampage at Granite Hills High School ended when he was shot by an El Cajon police officer on the school's campus, was transferred Saturday to a hospital bed in the San Diego County Jail after wounds to his face and buttocks were treated at the University of California at San Diego Medical Center.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of life plus 51 years. He would be eligible for parole in 44 years, said Deputy District Attorney Sam Lamborn.

Hoffman's mother was in the courtroom during his appearance, said Bill Trainor, his public defender, but it did not appear that he made eye contact with her or anyone else.

"He is very emotionally upset about the events of the last few days," Trainor told reporters after the court appearance.

Hoffman's mother asked he son's attorney to say "that her heart goes out to the families, the community and to the relatives and friends of those injured and she can't explain what happened," Trainor said.

"We need to get a lot of help for this young man, to find out for the community what happened here in a way we can all understand and get our arms around," Trainor said. "The community is convulsing and it needs to heal."

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Granite Hills High School
San Diego County Sheriff

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