15 February 2008

Update on Oxnard shooting....



Even though law enforcement officials are refusing to comment or give details, it's looking like they will charge 14-year-old Brandon McInerney, who shot and killed eighth-grader, Larry King, 15, (pictured above) this past week at an Oxnard middle school, with a hate crime. Prosecutors are also seeking to try the teenager as an adult.

Prosecutors decided to try him in adult court because the law allows them to do so with juveniles as young as 14 who are accused of serious crimes. Officials said McInerney is facing a long prison sentence if he is convicted of shooting his classmate, 15-year-old Larry King.

"The first-degree murder carries 25 (years) to life. The use of a firearm carries 25 to life, and the hate crime carries an enhancement of one to three years," Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox said in an interview. "In Ventura County, we've never had a school shooting like this. It is very tragic."


I must say I was surprised to see that the hate-crime designation carries only an additional 1 to 3 years. For this the right-wing makes a huge uproar every time another jurisdiction seeks such legislation?!

Complete story here, and more here.

[Cross-posted at The Bilerico Project.]

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