Marshall County shooting suspect's identity confirmed, will be tried as an adult
BENTON, Kentucky — The charges against a 15-year-old Kentucky student accused of killing two and injuring more than a dozen others in a shooting at Marshall County High School on Jan. 23 will be heard in adult court, per the suspect's arraignment Friday.
Gabriel Ross Parker, of Hardin, Kentucky, is charged "with two counts of Murder and 14 counts of First Degree Assault. The charges stem from the January 23 shooting at Marshall County High School," according to a statement from the Kentucky State Police.
Officials declined to comment further.
Parker's bond was set at $1.5 million.
A Marshall County grand jury met Tuesday to consider trying Parker as an adult. He was originally charged in the Marshall County Juvenile Court, but prosecutors asked for the case to be moved to the county’s circuit court.
Parker, a sophomore, was initially charged with two counts of murder and 12 counts of first-degree assault.
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Background:Confusion, then chaos, at Marshall County High School as shots rang out
He is accused of bringing a shotgun to Marshall County High School and firing the first shots into a crowd at about 7:57 a.m. Marshall County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended him and took him into custody by about 8:06 a.m.
The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation with assistance from federal and local agencies.
Students Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15, were killed in the Jan. 23 shooting. Twenty-one others were injured, including 14 who were shot.
Parker appeared in front of a judge two days later at the Marshall County Judicial Center in Benton, less than five miles from the crime scene.
Parker’s arraignment as the alleged Marshall County High School gunman comes just two days after 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were killed by 19-year-old alum Nikolas Cruz in Parkland, Florida, which hit close to home for some in Marshall County.
Related:3 weeks after Marshall County shooting, survivors watch Florida tragedy unfold
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Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars told Courier Journal he was in his office on Wednesday when he found out about the shooting from a TV that was turned to a news station.
It immediately brought back the horror of the Jan. 23 shooting in Marshall County, said Byars, who apprehended the 15-year-old suspect himself.
“It was the same reaction when our event happened. I feel for that community. And I hope that their community will get the same love and prayers that our community has gotten. I hope everybody shows them the same compassion that we were shown. I feel for (Broward County, Florida) Sheriff (Scott) Israel,” he said.
Marshall County Schools Superintendent Trent Lovett took to Twitter on Wednesday, saying "our thoughts and prayers are with the staff, students and first responders at Stoneman Douglas High School. We are here for you. #marshallstrong."
Courier Journal reporter Justin Sayers contributed to this story. Kelly Fisher, reporter for the Ashland City Times, can be reached at KPFisher@gannett.com, 615-801-3866 or on Twitter at @KellyPFisher.
