The boy did not show any emotion as he walked into the courtroom wearing a yellow jumpsuit. He did not have handcuffs or leg shackles on. A judge ordered the teen to continue to be held.
His mother sat on the front row during the brief hearing and left the courtroom sobbing and leaning on another woman. The Associated Press typically does not identify juveniles charged with crimes. Authorities have not released a motive for the school shooting or killing.
The teen who is not old enough to have a driver's license had to make only two turns to arrive at the red brick school, where he crashed the truck, got out and started firing during recess.
Bullets struck two students and a first-grade teacher, and the building was immediately placed on lock down. Anderson 4 Superintendent Joanne Avery said staff saved lives by flawlessly implementing active-shooter training drills conducted with students at Townville Elementary, most recently as just last week.
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"If he'd gotten in the school, it would've been a different scenario," she said.
The shooter then fired toward students on the playground but missed. A teacher who heard the first gunshot was able to get those students safely inside, Avery said.
Relatives of one of the wounded, 6-year-old Jacob Hall, said he remained on life support in a hospital. His family issued a statement late today saying the boy sustained a major brain injury due to the amount of blood he lost after being shot in the leg.
A sign outside a diner conveyed the sentiments of an entire community: "Pray for Jacob. Pray for Townville."
The shot teacher and another student who was hit in the foot were treated and released from a hospital, officials said.