Teen charged in Magruder High School shooting will be prosecuted an adult

The 17-year-old boy accused of shooting and nearly killing a fellow student in a bathroom at Magruder High School in January will be tried as an adult. On Thursday, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David Boynton issued the ruling in the felony case against 17-year-old Steven Alston Jr of Gaithersburg.

Alston Jr. attacked a 15-year-old student who was later found in a bathroom suffering from traumatic injuries. The victim was found by a security guard, Montgomery County police said. The wounded student was taken to a hospital in serious condition, said Sheira Goff, a Montgomery County police spokesperson. The victim underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition on Saturday afternoon, officials tell News4.

Alston Jr., who will turn 18 in August, faces more than 115 years in prison. His list of criminal charges includes attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of a firearm while a minor, and possession of a dangerous weapon on school property.