Postponed Hearing Could Delay Accused Perry Hall Student Shooter's Trial

A hearing to determine the state of charges against 15-year-old Robert W. Gladden, Jr. has been postponed a second time, and could cause a delay in his criminal court trial, Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney John Cox confirmed on Thursday. 

Gladden is accused of opening fire inside Perry Hall High School's cafeteria on the first day of school and seriously injuring another student. He was charged as an adult with nine counts of first-degree attempted murder, among other charges, in the Aug. 27 incident.

A juvenile waiver hearing for Gladden was first scheduled for Nov. 11, then postponed and rescheduled for Jan. 3, then postponed again. A rescheduled date for the hearing has not yet been determined, Cox said. 

During the juvenile waiver hearing, Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Robert Cahill, Jr. will make a final decision on whether Gladden will continue to be charged as an adult or be tried as a juvenile. If tried as a juvenile, Gladden could face significantly less jailtime and media scrutiny.

Delays in determining the state of charges against Gladden will likely lead to a delay in his criminal court trial, currently scheduled for Jan. 30, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Cox said. 

Cox said he plans to continue to argue that Gladden be tried in adult court, but added that the judge will factor age and available treatment programs into his decision. 

Investigators said Gladden brought a disassembled double-barrel shotgun and a bottle of vodka to school in his backpack on Aug. 27. During the first scheduled lunch, he allegedly randomly opened fire in the cafeteria, striking and seriously injuring 17-year-old special needs student Daniel Borowy. Staff members stopped the attack by tackling Gladden and holding him until he was arrested, police said.

The incident caused a national outcry and several charitable and memorial events followed.

Months after the shooting, Gladden remains at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Cox said. He appeared in a bail review hearing in September, but was denied bail pending a mental evaluation. A new bail review hearing was not scheduled.

Gladden was formerly represented by both Columbia attorney Clarke Ahlers and Lutherville attorney George Psoras. Ahlers's office confirmed, however, that he is no longer involved in the case.

Psoras's office was not immediately available for comment on Gladden's juvenile waiver hearing.

Days after the shooting, Psoras told the Associated Press that Gladden was a victim of bullying and never intended to harm other students when he brought a gun to school.

Police previously denied these claims, announcing that bullying was not believed to be a factor and that Gladden acted deliberately.