Canton, S.D. (KELO AM) - The suspect in the 2015 school shooting that injured then-Harrisburg High School principal Kevin Lein has been found guilty and sentenced in a surprise turn of events on Wednesday.
Mason Buhl pled guilty to charges of attempted murder after he was found fit to stand trial earlier in the day. After the change of plea Judge Brad Zell sentenced the teen to 25 years in jail, with 25 suspended. So instead of jail time, Buhl will complete and mental health treatment program and 15 years of probation.
Judge Brad Zell heard the apology that Buhl uttered to the Lincoln County courtroom, and in no uncertain terms told the 18 year old that he will be on thin ice with his probation. Zell reportedly told Buhl that any violent behavior will result in a ticket to jail.
Buhl was 16 years old when he walked into Principal Lein's office for an early morning meeting, produced a gun from his backpack, and shot the Lein in the arm. He then ran from the office and was tackled to the ground by then-Vice Principal Ryan Rollinger, preventing further incident.
Buhl was then found to have upwards of 50 rounds of ammunition on him that day.
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Lein, the man Buhl shot in the arm, resigned his post in Harrisburg earlier this year and now works in central Iowa overseeing a cluster of school districts. Vice Principal Rollinger, whom many called a hero after he tackled Buhl to the ground, now serves as Principal for Harrisburg High School.