Hearing reveals planning by boy accused of Noblesville school shooting
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The former Noblesville West Middle School student who, according to investigators, shot his seventh-grade teacher and classmate in May admitted to the crimes in court Monday.
David Moore, who was 13 years old during the May 25 shooting at Noblesville West Middle School, is accused of shooting student Ella Whistler and teacher Jason Seaman. Both victims survived the shooting. Seaman has been hailed as a hero for stopping Moore.
A judge heard and saw more than five hours of evidence and testimony. He said he would consider how to sentence Moore and court will resume at 9 a.m. Nov. 14.
Prosecutors played a video that they say shows Moore before the shooting. The boy is holding a gun in the clip.
“Tomorrow is Friday. You know what that means,” Moore said in the video. “I have to end other peoples’ lives before I end my own.”
Moore, who wore an orange and white-striped jail uniform, sat next to his parents at the front of the packed courtroom. Cameras were not allowed inside.
Investigators said they found the video clip after seizing Moore’s phone, iPad and iPod Touch.
A Noblesville police officer testified that he also discovered Moore searched online the day before the shooting for the phrases “Noblesville Middle School blueprint” and “What was the largest mass shooting in America?”
Teacher Jason Seaman testified that, on May 25, while his class took a test, Moore asked to use the bathroom.
Investigators said Moore had two handguns in his backpack. When Moore returned, Seaman said, the student started shooting.
The teacher said he threw a miniature basketball at Moore, tackled him, pinned him down and removed weapons from his pockets.
Seaman was shot three times and 13-year-old Whistler also suffered multiple gunshots.
Whistler’s mother testified that Ella was not in court today because “she never wants to see (Moore) again.”
Ella continues to recover from her injuries and, according to her mom, her right arm might never get back to 100 percent.
The Whistlers asked for the maximum sentence possible, and Seaman said he does not feel Moore should be released back into society until he’s completed mental health treatment and it’s a certainty that “he is not a threat to himself or to anyone else.”
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office juvenile center division leader said Moore is housed alone and does not interact with other juveniles.
Prosecutors played a video of the suspect at the juvenile center in late October building something with Legos that resembles a rifle.
The prosecutors argued Moore is a violent kid and he should be locked up in a juvenile detention center with the Indiana Department of Correction.
Prosecutors also requested that Moore receive mental health treatment and stay on probation until he is 21.
Moore’s lawyers said he should undergo more intensive mental health treatment than what the state can provide.
Stephanie Lambert, a Noblesville West Middle School mom who could not get into the packed courtroom Monday morning, said Seaman is her son’s favorite teacher.
“I hope that some kids and teachers in the community can get peace and I hope they can move forward. It’s just very hurtful and shocking that it happened to us and to our community.”
Prosecutors said, by state law, they cannot charge Moore as an adult.
They also requested a “no contact” order keeping Moore from contacting Seaman or Whistler.
Prosecutors said they still do not know the motive behind the shooting.
Noblesville West’s principal testified that Moore is banned from attending any Indiana public school until at least 2020.
The suspect’s lawyers, Eskew Law, sent this written statement from Moore:
“‘Sorry if I’m not a very good writer. What happened on May 25th was a tragedy. And, if I could, I would take it all back. I’m sorry to all the people I scared and hurt. I feel so bad for what I put you through, and I wish it would have never happened. I am so sorry to Ella and Mr. Seaman. Ella, I’m sorry for the pain I caused you. I wish I could have just been the geeky jokester who annoyed you. I know you’ll always be affected by what I did, and I want you to know I am terribly sorry. Mr. Seaman, I’m sorry that I hurt you, and scared you. I thought you were a good teacher, and I appreciate you always being nice and fair to me. Thanks for protecting everyone, and probably saving my life too. Your honor, I can’t explain why I did what I did. I know what I did was terrible, and maybe unforgivable. I’m ashamed about what I did. I want to get help to understand why this happened, so it never happens again. I want to show everyone that I’m going to do what I have to do to figure things out. Once I do, I hope for a chance to live a normal life, and try to make up for what I’ve done. I recognize the terrible things I have done, and how it has effected everyone. I will accept any consequence you give me. I want to thank everyone who has tried to help me, my mom and dad, and the rest of my family, Pastor Joe, and all the staff at the juvenile detention center. I want everyone to know that I’m sorry for what I’ve done.’
“Eskew Law is not issuing any further statements at this time.”
