Hearing set in 2017 school shooting
Defense seeks to suppress comments from interrogation.
The West-Liberty Salem High School shooting suspect is expected to be in Champaign County Common Pleas today.
Ely Serna, 18, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and other felony charges. He allegedly brought a shotgun to West Liberty-Salem High School on Jan. 20, 2017, and shot fellow student Logan Cole twice in a school’s bathroom, according to a sheriff ’s office report. He’s also accused of shooting at a teacher and firing other shots toward classrooms, the report says.
The hearing is to discuss a motion by the defense to suppress what Serna allegedly told Champaign County deputies during an interrogation following the shooting. Serna pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and the defense has argued his statements to law enforcement at the time shouldn’t be allowed.
A jury trial is set for April 10 in the case. Defense Attorney Dennis Lieberman said in court he expects the defense to ask the court for a bench trial instead of a jury trial. The trial is expected to last through April 20.
The Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office plans to call between 30 and 35 witnesses if the case does go to trial, Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi said. The prosecutor’s office is prepared to move forward to trial whether Champaign County Judge Nick Selvaggio rules the interrogation to be admissible or not, Talebi said.
The hearing was expected to take place in January, however, the defense didn’t get a document to prosecutors by a deadline, Selvaggio said, and he had to schedule another hearing date for the motion. Contact this reporter at 937328-0254 or email Parker. Perry@coxinc.com.