2 Hearings Scheduled For Moses Lake Defendant

A judge Tuesday scheduled a March 25 hearing to determine whether a 15-year-old charged with killing two junior high classmates and a teacher will be tried as a juvenile or adult.

But the hearing could be delayed if Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline decides to grant a motion for a continuance sought by Barry Loukaitis’ defense attorney. A hearing is scheduled Monday to consider that motion.

Prosecutor John Knodell wants to try Loukaitis as an adult and argues the Moses Lake teen should spend the rest of his life in prison.

Loukaitis is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault in the deaths of algebra teacher Leona Caires and 14-year-old students Manuel Vela and Arnold Fritz. Student Natalie Hintz, 13, survived the Feb. 2 shootings at Frontier Junior High School in Moses Lake.