By AP/KWMU
Carthage, MO – A Joplin seventh-grader will go to trial on five felony counts for firing an assault rifle at his middle school last October.
Nobody was injured, but 14-year-old Thomas White has been charged as an adult with firing the gun into a ceiling and pointing it at school administrators.
Jasper County Circuit Judge Stephen Carlton ruled there was enough evidence to back up the charges and scheduled an arraignment for Friday. A trial date has not been set.
Two administrators testified in a preliminary hearing today that White pointed the assault rifle directly at them.
Memorial Middle School Principal Stephen Gilbreth said he thought White was trying to fire the gun when the boy repeatedly jabbed the weapon toward him.
Police later said it had jammed after the first shot into the ceiling.