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Man Who Allegedly Shot Girl Outside Aurora School Appears In Court

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - A man accused of shooting a 16-year-old girl right outside of her school was in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Luis Guzman-Rincon is accused of shooting Karina Vargas in December. Her injuries left Vargas paralyzed.

The detective who testified in the preliminary hearing said the shooting was gang-motivated and a possible retaliation for an incident that happened over the summer.

Guzman-Rincon is accused of shooting into a crowd outside Aurora Central High School from the back of a car on Dec. 6. Vargas was talking to a group of her friends when she was shot in the back.

The bullet lodged in Vargas' spine paralyzing her from the bellybutton down.

In court Det. Gretchen Fronapfel testified a witness said the shooting was in retaliation. She said Guzman-Rincon was hit in the head with a brick over the summer by an Aurora Central student in a gang-related fight.

Guzman-Rincon's defense attorneys say other witnesses say Guzman-Rincon was not the gunman. Guzman-Rincon's home was searched after his arrest on Dec. 8. Police found ammunition, cleaning solution for firearms and an air pistol, but no evidence of the gun allegedly used.

Guzman-Rincon faces 16 charges, including attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault.

The judge ruled there was enough evidence for a trial. Guzman-Rincon will be back in court June 27 for his arraignment. He's being held on a $100,000 bond.

Immigration Customs Enforcement has placed a hold on Guzman-Rincon.

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