Day 2: Classmates testify in hearing for Myrtle Beach area teen charged in school shooting

Published: March 15, 2011 

Live updates from the courtroom during the second day of a waiver hearing in which Family Court Judge Georgia Anderson is expected to decide whether Christian Helms should be tried as an adult or juvenile in a 2010 school shooting case.

10 a.m. - Det. Brad Townsend of Horry County Police is on the stand and testifying about search warrants for Christian Helms' Twitter and myspace accounts. The teen's pages are being reviewed.

10:10 a.m. - Photos of Helms taken the day of the shooting are being shown.

10:14 a.m. - Townsend said that Helms made statement on in-car dashcam that he would "go down in history as person who failed to shoot up Socastee High School."

10:25 a.m. - Townsend said Helms' journal showed the teen had "an order of what he intended to do." The shooting 'included "public execution of that officer" referring Erik Karney. Helms had planned the shooting for 2014 but moved up his plans, Townsend said.

10:31 a.m. - A 15-year-old classmate of Christian Helms is testifying. She said she was "surprised and upset" to learn she was No. 3 on Helms' hit list. She said they went on a field trip to Carowinds and they played truth or dare. She was dared to kiss him, but kissed him on the cheek instead.

10:42 a.m. - Another 15-year-old student testified that in sixth grade he and Helms were teased on a school bus for having red hair. The teen also was on the hit list. The teen said he would give Socastee a grade of an 'F" for that way it is handling bullying. He said he also has been bullied.

11 a.m. - 15-year-old female student said Helms "was talkative. He seemed to have a lot of friends. He was hyper. He seemed fine." She doesn't know why she was on the list.

11:40 a.m. - A 14-year-old boy who fought with Helms in the seventh grade is on the stand. His name was not on the hit list. He said they became friends after they fought. He said he saw Helms being picked on by other students.

12:05 p.m. - 16-year-old boy on the stand. Was No. 1 on the hit list. Said he sold Helms Oregano as marijuana when Helms was in seventh grade. The boy, a grade ahead of Helms, said he has heard that Helms was to beat him up when he gets out of jail. He said he doesn't know why Helms is obsessed with him. He said he hasn't seen Helms at high school.

12:25 p.m. - 14-year-old girl testifies that Helms told her he was moving to Georgia. She said she has been writing to Helms. In a letter dated Oct. 12, Helms wrote to her, "I shot at him but he still got me," about Karney. Helms told her he let go of the gun after he hit his head during the struggle. Helms also told the girl that he was in a gang.

2 p.m. - After a lunch break, Jennifer Herring, the school resource officer for Forestbrook Middle School, has been called to testify.

2:15 p.m. - Herring's testimony includes a list of infractions and in-school suspensions Helms received in sixth and seventh grades for violations that included chewing gum in class, talking during class, going to class without materials, riding a bus with his cousin without parent permission and refusing to obey administrators. Herring said she never received a report about bullying involving Helms while he was at the middle school.

2:25 p.m. - One of Helms' teachers from the eighth grade testified Helms wrote a research paper and did a presentation about Columbine (Colo.) High School shooting.

2:40 p.m. - Helms' seventh grade guidance counselor is testifying that he reported two incidents where other kids were picking on him. She reported to school administrators the first incident where another kid put a lollipop in his hair, but Helms would not let her report the second incident in which a kid called Helms names.

2:45 p.m. - Because of scheduling, Joel B. Heffler, a psychologist who evaluated Helms for the state Department of Juvenile Justice, is testifying out of order. Heffler has been called as a defense witness and prosecutors will resume their case after Heffler's testimony.

3 p.m. - Heffler said Helms suffers from depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorder, but that he excels in his academics. "He is a very bright young man," Heffler said. "He has a tremendous amount of potential. I don't think he's thriving." During his evaluation of Helms, Heffler said the teen did express remorse for his actions. "He's sorry about the stress and pain he's caused other people."

3:15 p.m. - Heffler said that Helms has identified with and idolized previous school shooters. "He wanted to have that kind of image," Heffler said. Heffler said Helms needs two or three years of intense mental health treatment with constant supervision and then regular followup and counseling to help him integrate into society and maintain his integration.

3:30 p.m. - Heffler said that Helms is highly sensitive to criticism. "Some times he will perceive things other people don't perceive. His perception of bullying may be much higher than to other people who watched."

4 p.m. Because of lengthy witness testimony, Judge Georgia Anderson is adjourning for the day and testimony will resume at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Check back later for more details about Tuesday's events.

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