Kent resident Luis F. Cosgaya-Alvarez, 16, pleaded not guilty Sept. 2 in last month’s shooting death at a Federal Way middle school.

Cosgaya-Alvarez is being held at King County Jail on $1 million bail, with a next court date set for Sept. 16, according to reports.

Cosgaya-Alvarez was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Omero Mendez, 26, who was shot dead at 8:21 p.m. Aug. 14 at Lakota Middle School, 1314 S.W. 314th St., Federal Way.

Police were summoned to the crime scene and found the victim deceased shortly after youth football practice concluded for the night. Approximately 15 people witnessed the shooting, police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said.

Witnesses reported seeing a black vehicle that appeared to be an SUV enter the parking lot of the school, Schrock said. Several Hispanic males occupied the vehicle, from which shots were fired. The males fled the scene in the SUV. Cosgaya-Alvarez is believed to be the shooter.

Police think the suspects knew the victim and were specifically targeting him, Schrock said. None of the witnesses were injured. Federal Way Police Department detectives interviewed witnesses Aug. 14.

The teenager will be tried as an adult, said Dan Donohoe, King County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman.