TACOMA, Washington (AP) – A teenager accused of fatally shooting a fellow student in a high school hallway refused to offer a motive, saying, “I don’t want it in the news”, according to court documents filed last Thursday.

Douglas Chanthabouly, 18, pleaded not guilty in court to one count of first-degree murder for the shooting last Wednesday at Henry Foss High School just before classes were to begin. He was ordered held on $1 million (euro760,000) bail.

In a probable-cause statement, prosecutors said Chanthabouly did not know the victim, “but knew of him”. Witnesses told police that Chanthabouly pointed a handgun at the other student and asked “What’s up?” He then fired a shot into the teen’s face from no more than a foot away.

The shooter stood over the body of 17-year-old Samnang Kok and fired twice more, hitting him in the lower left side and left buttock, the statement said.

Police arrested Chanthabouly a few blocks away.

After the court hearing, which was attended by members of both families, Chanthabouly’s family offered a tearful apology. Contrary to what authorities said Chanthabouly told them, his mother, Chantha Chanthabouly, said the families did know each other, but did not say how. Both families are Cambodian.

“I love the family,” she said, sobbing uncontrollably. “I love that boy, the boy that passed away, and the boy they have locked up is mine.”

Asked why her son might have killed Kok, she said: “I don’t know. Only God can tell you.”

The school reopened Thursday with increased security. Police cruisers were in the parking lot, and officers patrolled the hallways.

Samnang Kok was the father of an 18-month-old boy, and had hoped to become a soldier after graduating, said his father, Rorth Kok.

“My son is gone and his baby is always crying after his father,” the elder Kok said, breaking into sobs.

Samnang Kok’s parents fled Cambodia to escape the Khmer Rouge during the 1980s. His first name means “lucky” or “fortunate” in Khmer.