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State May Not Charge Student As Adult In Killian High Stabbing

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Every indication was the State of Florida on Tuesday would charge the 17-year-old suspect as an adult in the near-fatal stabbing of sophomore student Deandre Johnson at Miami Killian Senior High School.

The attack came at lunchtime near the school cafeteria at Killian on March 31.

In an unexpected procedure rule move, however, prosecutors Tuesday agreed to put off the charging decision for another three weeks. A rare accommodation.

Assistant Public defender Joann Baran said she was "encouraged" by the State's agreement to discuss keeping the teen's case in juvenile court.

Click here to watch Gary Nelson's report. 

Her civil attorney, Jeff Herman, said he hopes prosecutors will not try the girl as an adult, but "get her the help" she needs.

Herman is representing her in a lawsuit, in which it is alleged that she was raped by football players at Keys Gate Charter High School in Homestead.

Herman said the suspect transferred to Killian where she was constantly bullied and ridiculed.

He said he didn't know if her alleged victim, Johnson, was among the supposed bullies.

Johnson said he did not know and had never spoken to his accused attacker, who police say had three large knives and a grilling fork.

She is currently being held in a secure mental health facility in Hialeah.

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