Boy, 14, Accused of Murdering Principal and Wounding Two Teachers and a Student

WICHITA, Kan. —  A 14-year-old junior high school student has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his principal, and prosecutors said Wednesday that they are confident they can prove the attack in a school hallway was planned in advance.

Sedgwick County Deputy Dist. Atty. Hank Blase would not discuss a possible motive. “We can’t get into that now,” he said.

The youth, identified by witnesses and police as James Alan Kearbey, was charged in Juvenile Court late Tuesday with one count of first-degree murder. He was charged with three counts of aggravated battery in the shooting also of two teachers and one student, who were wounded.