No ruling on competency for West Liberty-Salem school shooting suspect

A judge today did not rule on Ely Serna’s competency before the court decides whether Ely Serna should be tried as an adult in the West Liberty-Salem High School shooting.

Ely Serna, 17, is charged with two counts of attempted murder among other charges. He is accused of bringing a shotgun to school on Jan. 20 and shooting 17-year-old Logan Cole twice in the bathroom. He also is accused of discharging the weapon in the school’s hallway before returning to the bathroom, where he was eventually taken into custody.

>>MORE: West Liberty suspect asked victim to shoot him, report says

Cole, who attended Serna’s competency hearing with his father, said he is starting to feel better.

“I have started to go lifting for soccer now that I am going to school full-time,” he said. “I am a little limited ... I can’t do squats. I won’t be able to put direct pressure on my back for a few months, but other than that I am pretty much back to normal.”

Media were able to cover the hearing, but weren’t allowed in the courtroom to hear testimony from psychologists who evaluated Serna.

Champaign County Juvenile Court Judge Lori Reisinger did not rule on Serna’s competency. The court ordered the competency hearing that was requested by the defense.

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