Hillsborough, N.C. — A teen accused of holding a student and a teacher hostage at a Chapel Hill school last spring pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to several charges Monday.

Police said William Foster entered a East Chapel Hill High School classroom on April 24 and threatened to kill civics teacher Lisa Kukla and a student, Chelsea Slegal. The teen was armed with a shotgun, an air pistol and a hunting knife, police said.

Kukla was eventually able to talk Foster into firing the weapon out the window. Foster ran from the school and was later arrested on kidnapping and assault charges.

Both Kukla and Slegal were at Monday's hearing.

"I just felt like the best way to get over my fear was by seeing him again," Slegal said. "I just hope people take from what's happened to me and try to help other schools so that our communities are safe."

"This is more about the community; it's not just about me," Kukla said. "I hope that people are paying attention to this case because it did happen in a school and it did happen to a teacher and a student, but it could've been anyone."

Foster has been undergoing psychiatric treatment for months in Raleigh. He was returned to Dorothea Dix Hospital after the court hearing and is scheduled to appear in court again in March.