Loukaitis Wins Switch Of Trial To King County

The murder-and-kidnapping trial of Barry Loukaitis will be held in King County, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Superior Court Judge Michael Cooper of Ellensburg granted the change of venue after Loukaitis’ attorney, Michael Frost, argued a recent murder-suicide involving another Moses Lake teenager made the prospect of finding an impartial Grant County jury unlikely.

Loukaitis, 15, is charged with three counts of aggravated firstdegree murder, 16 counts of first-degree kidnapping and single counts of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault stemming from the Feb. 2 shootings in a Moses Lake junior high school classroom.

Loukaitis has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity.

Cooper also said the trial, scheduled to begin Feb. 4, likely will be delayed until April or May because of the move.

Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell argued against the move because of the potential additional expenses for the county. Cooper rejected his motion to have a jury selected in King County and sequestered in Grant County.

Relatives of the victims were disappointed with Cooper’s decision, Knodell said.