HAMILTON, Ohio – A 15-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder with a firearm and inducing panic.
James Austin Hancock was arrested after the Feb. 29 shootings that wounded two students and injured two others at Madison Local Schools.
A plea deal was expected.
Hancock is scheduled to be sentenced June 6.
Hancock's family members shared tearful hugs as he was taken away.
Outside the court, Hancock's attorney, Charlie Rittgers, said he didn't believe Hancock had necessarily targeted everyone who was injured.
"We're dealing with the mind of a 14-year-old and, as most people know, especially at that age, they're immature and they sometimes act impulsively," Rittgers said.
Ginger Weaver, the mother of one of the victims, said she believed Hancock should be tried as an adult.
"He knows better," she said. "I wanted more, but nothing else is going to happen."
Hancock was indicted last month as a juvenile under a serious youthful offender classification on charges of attempted murder, felonious assault and inducing panic.
A defense attorney for Hancock said after a hearing earlier this month that he didn't expect the case to go to trial, but a prosecutor said at the time that no plea deal was in place.
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