California school teen shooter pleads not guilty

Taft, CA, United States (4E) – A 16-year-old California high school student who allegedly fired at his classmates at Taft High School using a 12-gauge shotgun pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges Monday.

Bryan Oliver is being held on a $1.5 million bail and his preliminary hearing is set on February 21.

Oliver has been charged as an adult with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon after he shot two people Thursday.

His two victims, Jacob Nichols and Bowe Cleveland, are being treated at the hospital and expected to recover.

Oliver’s attorney, David Torres, who spoke for his client during the hearing, filed a motion to bar cameras from the courtroom to avoid compromising his client’s right to a fair trial which was denied by the judge.

It was reported that when Oliver was arrested, he was carrying a shotgun and about 20 rounds of ammunition.

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said that a teacher, Ryan Heber, and campus counselor Kim Fields managed to evacuate other students and convince Oliver to drop his weapon.

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