West Valley authorities said Wednesday that the 14-year-old Hunter High School student accused of firing fatal rounds at a group of HS football players was reportedly harassed.
The unidentified suspect was charged with murder and possession of a handgun by a minor over the January 13 shooting incident that left Paul Tahi, 15, and Tivani Lopati, 14, dead.
A third victim, Ephraim Asiata, 15, has survived the ordeal but spent days in the intensive care after sustaining critical wounds.
The gunman had reportedly admitted to shooting the three teens because they were harassing him and his friends for over a year.
He added that on the eve of the incident, the three boys had threatened to beat him up if he showed up for school the following day, which prompted him to bring the gun, to defend himself.
Although other boys’ statements corroborated the suspect’s claims, a judge denied his request for release and set his next hearing on March 3.
