An 18-year-old hero, Kendrick Castillo was killed when he lunged at one of two teen shooters at the STEM school in Highland Park, CO on Tuesday. Two suspects, 18-year-old Devon Erickson and 16-year-old Maya (a transgender student, who prefers to be called Alec) McKinney opened fire in two separate classrooms in the STEM high school section of the campus. In addition to murdering Castillo, an innocent student, who made it possible for other students to escape the wrath of the mentally unstable students, eight other students were injured during the incident.

The New York Post reports – The second suspect in the Colorado school shooting, Maya McKinney, was listed in court records as a 16-year-old female, but identifies as a male and prefers to be called Alec.

This is the juvenile female Maya Elizabeth McKinney. pic.twitter.com/iSXdqrpK3Q

— Jimmy G (@bogeyjimmy) May 8, 2019

McKinney was shackled at the wrists and ankles Wednesday when he appeared in court and responded to the judge’s questions in a clear but quiet voice, saying, “Yes, your honor,” and, “No, your honor.” His mother sat at his side.

Maya McKinney, a transgender student who identifies as Alec, has been identified as the second shooter in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooter. https://t.co/bqaU8IC1Wa

— COED (@COED) May 9, 2019

The teen’s lawyers asked that the pronoun “he” be used for their client.

District attorney George Brauchler said he hasn’t decided whether to file adult charges against McKinney, whose age is the youngest at which Colorado law allows prosecutors to file adult charges without a judge’s review.

McKinney is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and is due back in court Friday.

The Daily Mail shared messages between Eldon Elledge, and his teenage son, one of the Denver high school students forced to hide in his classroom when two shooters opened fire has shared the harrowing text messages he received from his teenage son as the gunfire rang out.

Eldon Elledge’s teenage son immediately texted his father when the alarms sounded and they were placed on lockdown at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Denver on Tuesday afternoon.

His terrified son’s messages became increasingly frantic as he told his father he could hear gunshots, was hiding in a classroom that had four separate entrances and that he loved him ‘just in case’.

Elledge shared the messages on Facebook on Wednesday and described it as ‘the scariest moment of my life’.

“Dad the school is on an unexpected lockdown.

They’ve got sirens playing all in the school and the radios are going crazy,’

‘I’m in the P.E. room with four different entrances.

Everyone is freaking out. It’s not a drill I’m actually scared. My heart is racing. I’m actually freaking out, I’m really scared.’

Elledge replied to his son and pleaded with him to remain calm and ‘remember your training’ for an active shooter situation.

‘Dad the announcements are going crazy. The speakers are telling everyone to get out of sight. The teacher thinks somebody is in the school,’ his son wrote.

Elledge told his son he was on his way to the school, adding: ‘But remain calm, breath slowly and pay attention. Listen to all sounds.

Breath short quite breathes and listen to anything off.’