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Loading ...Calif. teen faces trial in gay classmate’s killing
07.23.2009 9:25am EDT
(Ventura, Calif.) A Southern California junior high school student has been ordered to stand trial in the fatal shooting of a gay classmate.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ken Riley said Wednesday that there was enough evidence to try 15-year-old Brandon McInerney for the February 2008 shooting death of Larry King, also 15. McInerney will be tried as an adult.Riley says he agrees with prosecutors that the shooting was premeditated and has added the special circumstance allegation that McInerney was lying in wait.
Authorities say McInerney shot Larry twice in the head during a computer lab at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard.
McInerney has pleaded not guilty to murder and a hate crime. He faces 53 years to life in prison if convicted.
We deny many civil rights to children because we don’t believe they are mature enough to handle them. We allow others to have control of their persons. We don’t allow people under 18 to enter into contracts because we don’t believe they can be held legally responsible. Etc. Many things that would actually be crimes if directed at another adult.
But then we create confusion when it’s convenient for us. We allow soldiers to kill but not to drink. Increasingly we just decide to change the rules. We arbitrarily decide to hold juvenile offenders to adult standards because it makes us feel good to be “tough on crime.”
While as a society, we certainly need to control anyone who would act in such an egregious manner, it is also to our benefit as a society to take circumstances into account. In this instance, one of those important circumstances is that the killer (admittedly a horrible murderer) was 14. 14 just is not equal to 28 no matter what the circumstances.
Alec, you’re right. 53 years honestly is not nearly enough for taking a life voluntarily, premeditated and without remorse.
Did Brandon do a horrible thing? Yes. Does he deserve 53 years in prison? No. Brandon was 14 at the time of the murder. Not only was he 14 but he was greatly influenced by adults in his action. Most people who are for Brandon being sent to jail and tried as an adult are gay. I’m gay myself. But does anyone see the situation? He was 14! His mind is like a sponge. Brandon isn’t mature enough to be tried as an adult. First of all he performed the act in broad daylight filled with witnesses. Secondly he told people he was going to kill him. If you were to murder someone would you do that? No. Everything he did points to the fact that he is a child and hould be tried as one. Yes a boy died. Yes there should be repremands for it. But should we punish a child so severly for performing an act so outragous? No. He should be tried as a child or tried as not guilty under reasons or insanity. Its so sad that so many people can make immature remarks regarding a boys life just because the victim was gay. Yes its sad he died a young child because of his orientation but that doesn’t mean brandon should be denied a chance to live his. He needs to be instabilitized in a youth center or a behavioral health hospital.
I would venture to guess that he learned his hate the old fashioned way, at church.
This whole episode is very sad. No, I don’t want anyone to be subjected to capital punishment or extremely long prison terms, but there must be justice. The first step in justice is realizing that hate crimes must be treated as hate crimes and that spreading hate is not free speech or a traditional value.
It amazes me that some people can’t, or refuse to, see a connection between the intolerance and outright bigotry toward gay people that exists within certain religious groups and the actions of 15-year-old Brandon McInerney. Hatred is learned, at the dinner table and from the pulpit. Loving the sinner but hating the sin does not register to a confused 15 year old.
So sad
The parents of Mclnerney should also be held accountable. The child was “incubated” in their household. He was obviously taught from a younger age that it is Ok to hate a person because they’re different. In stead of teaching acceptance and love for fellow human, they taught hatred and bigotry and should receive consequences for their in-acion. The boy didn’t just have these feelings spontaniously. They were there from day one, lingering in his soul.
Monkey see – Monkey do.
But like posted before…2 young lives lost to hatred and intolerance. Sad, sad, sad.
R.I.P. to both of them.
no parole. it is so sad that usa has incubated the mentality that is it alright to act out in violence when we don’t agree with the way someone choses to live their sexual life.
Let justice be swift.
Two lives lost due to hatred. Lawrence and Brandon both had their lives cut way too short. Hatred was the motive in the crime, but who instilled that hatred? How did Brandon come to decide that he did not want Lawrence to live?
53 years to life sounds about right! Here’s hopeing he gets at least the min with no parole. RIP Lawrence.