CHICAGO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The 15-year-old suspect who shot two of his classmates dead and injured 18 others in a rural Kentucky school will face charges of murder and first degree assault, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Local television channel WPSD-6 quoted assistant Marshall county attorney Jason Darnall as saying that they would recommend the suspect be charged with two counts of murder and 12 counts of 1st degree assault.
They originally planned to charge him with 12 counts of attempted murder but it was changed to 1st degree assault based on the information they gathered now. Both charges carry the same penalty.
A juvenile court in Kentucky will first determine whether or not the suspect remains under juvenile status or is moved to adult status. A grand jury is expected to meet later in February to decide what the final charges will be.
Meanwhile, the Marshall High School remained closed on Wednesday as a crime scene and local police increased the number of injured from 17 to 18.
Authorities also released the names of two deceased students, Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, both 15-year-old.
In a message from the superintendent of Marshall County schools, Trent Lovett asked all local residents to "wrap your arms around these families and around these students."
On Tuesday morning, the suspect walked into Marshall High School in Southwest Kentucky with a handgun and started to shoot at his classmates. His motive is still unknown to public.
Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has described the shooting as "a tremendous tragedy."
