Associated Press Published

Teenager to Stay in Juvenile Custody After Hostage Situation

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The teenager who held a class hostage in August will remain in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Services.

WDTV-TV reports a Barbour County Circuit Court judge decided Thursday that the 14-year-old will remain in a secure juvenile detention facility until he is 21 years old.

The Barbour County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a news release the court heard from numerous victims of the incident and an expert witness.

The student had previously admitted to 33 counts of wanton endangerment and a count of possessing a deadly weapon at an educational facility.

The 14-year-old held 27 classmates and a teacher at gunpoint on Aug. 25 at Philip Barbour High School. The standoff ended without a single shot fired and no one hurt.