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Freeman shooter's trial moved to June 2021

Freeman High School's graduation falls just 11 days after the trial is set to start, on June 12, 2021.

SPOKANE, Wash. — Editor's note: The above video is about attorneys for Caleb Sharpe asking the judge to recuse himself from the case. 

The trial for a teen who admitted to opening fire at Freeman High school in 2017 is now set for June 1, 2021, when jury selection will begin.

Freeman High School's graduation for the class of 2021 falls just 11 days after the start date, on June 12, 2021.

Caleb Sharpe, 18, shot and killing one student and injuring several others in Freeman High School’s hallway three years ago, according to court documents. Sharpe previously admitted to being responsible for the shooting to investigators. 

He faces charges of first degree premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances, three charges of attempted first degree murder for the three girls injured in the shooting, and 51 second degree assault charges for other students endangered during the shooting. 

A judge set his bond at $1 million. 

Some Freeman parents are frustrated with this June date because it looms over the graduation day for the class of 2021. Next year will be the senior year for the last group of students who witnessed the shooting.

"The three individuals who were shot by Mr. Sharpe, this is their graduating year. This is the last group of students. So we have asked council and suggested a June 1 trial date to start jury selection to hopefully get those students through graduation," said Deputy Prosecutor Kelly Fitzgerald. 

Other parents are confused as to why the public defenders still need more time to prepare.

In July 2019, the shooter's legal representation changed from a private attorney to a public defender. Meaning, they now have two years of evidence to catch up on. Spokane County Commissioners granted the public defender's request for an additional $210,000 to offset the work load.  

Director Tom Kryzminski confirms the two attorney's assigned to the case are still working other cases at the same time. He said they have not yet used the additional tax payer dollars. All costs from this case have come out of the public defenders annual to date.

The judge in the case said he doesn't know how realistic the date for the trial is because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don't know how many times I've said that I've wanted to get this case going, we needed to get this case tried and completed, for everyone's sake...and here comes COVID, which has changed the circumstance for everyone," said Judge Michael Price.

Price said Spokane County held a criminal jury trial a few weeks ago. It's the first court in Washington state to do this since the stay and home order went into effect. He said it was not a complex case, but the court still faced tremendous obstacles because of current restrictions. 

"Jurors, who very much did not want to be here, struggled with the idea of being called for jury service in the middle of a pandemic," Price said.

The judge is presiding on a murder trial next week. The plan is to use two courtrooms to conduct the trial. One for jurors and one for the judge and attorneys in order to keep everyone six feet apart. Price hopes the trial will spotlight any necessary changes to this plan ahead of the Freeman shooter's trial. 

"I want to apologize profusely to those who have been waiting for this trial date to go forward. It would have been over tried and done had COVID not raised it's head in my opinion. And I wouldn't be remotely be considering a continuance," Price said.

Sharpe was 15 years old when the shooting occurred. A judge ruled in late July 2019 that he would be tried as an adult, which means he could face life in prison.

The defense for Sharpe previously submitted a motion for recusal of  Judge Price, saying he “can no longer appear impartial in further proceedings against Mr. Sharpe.”

That motion was denied by the Spokane County Superior Court in January. 

RELATED: Freeman shooting suspect pleads not guilty, bond set at $1M

RELATED: Judge says Freeman shooting suspect will be tried as an adult

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