Teen stands trial over shooting at Atlantis Beach Baptist College in Two Rocks
A teenager who allegedly fired multiple shots at a school, hitting a classroom while teachers and students ducked for cover, has been sentenced to a mental health investigation.
The 15-year-old boy, whose name cannot be released for legal reasons, appeared briefly via video link at Perth Children’s Court on Friday.
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A video feed from the courtroom showed the youth at Banksia Hill Detention Center wearing a sweatshirt and sitting at a desk in an empty room.
He was not required to file a plea and was remanded in custody, set to appear again in the same court on Tuesday.
The court ordered a mental health and fitness assessment on bail before a possible request for release if the matter is heard again in court.
During the brief hearing, the boy answered “yes” and “no” to a series of questions while the seven charges against him were read out.
These include firing a firearm to induce fear and possessing a prohibited weapon.
The teenager is also charged with illegal driving, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and wrongful conduct with intent to cause harm.
Police claimed the boy fired three shots with two rifles at Atlantis Beach Baptist College Wednesday noon.
The incident, believed to be the first of its kind in WA, forced the north Perth school to close as students and teachers hid in a storage room.
Police have also previously said the teenager fired the shots from a parking lot while in a vehicle that appeared to belong to his father.
Forensic scientists were seen Thursday analyzing two bullet holes about five meters apart in the side of a collapsible classroom.
One was above an external door and the other next to a window with an unobstructed view of a 30m wide leafy courtyard adjacent to the parking lot.
Police had previously released body-worn camera footage showing officers taking the boy into custody without incident and taking two rifles, .243 and .22 caliber, along with three bullet casings from a car.
The guns are believed to be registered to the boy’s father.
The incident has shocked the people of Perth. Prime Minister Mark McGowan said work has begun on drastic reform of the state’s gun laws.
McGowan said it was “unthinkable” that a US-style shooting could occur at a Washington school and that it was fortunate no one was killed.
“The bullets went close,” he said on Thursday.
“It’s a terrible, terrible thing and it could have been a lot worse.”
Journalists were urged during the court hearing to report responsibly on the matter. Prosecutor Brad Hollingsworth said some media outlets incorrectly reported the boy had been expelled from school.
Atlantis Beach Baptist College is a coeducational school for boys and girls from Kindergarten through 10th grade.
It is located in the suburb of Two Rocks about 70km north of Perth.
