SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (AP) — The case of a Virginia high school student who was suspended for six months for shooting small plastic balls through a tube at classmates is headed to a court hearing.

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The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg reports that a Circuit Court judge is scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday.

Andrew Mikel II was punished last December after his projectiles struck three classmates at Spotsylvania High School, where he was a freshman.

His cause was taken up by the Rutherford Institute. The civil liberties group is seeking Mikel's immediate reinstatement to school and the purging of all records related to the suspension.

Rutherford President John Whitehead said the punishment exceeds the offense. He calls it zero-tolerance run amok.