14-year-old Charged with Shooting at Ill. School

A 14-year-old boy faces 16 felony charges after authorities accused him of firing gunshots into the ceiling at Normal Community High School on Friday before a teacher tackled him.

A public defender entered a not guilty plea for the boy during a juvenile court hearing on Monday. The boy is charged with multiple counts of unlawful restraint and unlawful use of a weapon.

Earlier Monday, Normal police said the boy had three handguns and ammunition with him during the incident  The boy also reportedly had a hatchet and two knives.

No one was injured, but Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner said the situation could have been much worse.

“I can’t get into motive or why or any of that this point cause I think we’re still trying to piece that together and get an accurate picture of it," Bleichner said. "I certainly think that it makes you understand that the potential for this situation was very great.”

Investigators have determined where the boy got the guns, but that information isn’t being publicly released at this time.

Reporters could not enter the school on Monday as 1,800 students returned, but the students appeared calm.