ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – The teenage suspect in an off-campus fight near Hazelwood East High School will soon learn if she’ll be charged as an adult.
At a hearing on Wednesday, a St. Louis County Circuit Court judge heard from prosecutors and defense attorneys to see if they were ready to move forward in determining whether the 15-year-old suspect would be tried as an adult.
Since the teen faces assault charges, the judge said the state must determine if she’ll be tried as an adult. A certification hearing is set for May 10.
“Today was just a status conference to let the judge know if we are on pace,” Greg Smith, who represents the defendant, said. “The reports have been given out and we are ready to go.”
The suspect was involved in a fight that left 16-year-old Kaylee Gain hospitalized with a skull fracture and brain bleeding, leaving her in critical condition at the time.
Video of the March 8 fight went viral online and garnered national attention.
Gain’s parents, speaking through their attorney, Bryan M. Kaemmerer of the law firm McCarthy, Leonard & Kaemmerer, said she’s out of the intensive care unit, has had limited verbal conversations with speech therapy, and is reiterating the same short sentences. Gain has also been able to go on short walks in the hospital with staff assistance.
Kaemmerer previously said the family is focused on Kaylee’s recovery and wants justice to be served through the legal system. Kaylee’s parents also asked all members of the community at large to come together to denounce teen violence and bullying.
Gain had been suspended the day before this fight for fighting at school.
