Brandon McInerney Who Killed Gay School Mate } 21 More Years in Jail

By Olsen Ebright

    

http://www.nbclosangeles.com

Brandon McInerney, who shot and killed a 15-year-old gay classmate in 2008, will serve another 21 years behind bars, according to a plea agreement announced Monday.

McInerney will not be eligible for time off for good behavior and will not receive credit for the nearly four years he's already spent at juvenile hall, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's office.

In 2008, McInerney -- 14 years old at the time -- brought a gun to E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard and waited for an opportunity to shoot McInerney in a computer lab.

"He eventually approached victim and shot him in the back of the head. As Larry King lay disabled on the ground, McInerney shot him in the head a second time," wrote the DA's office in a statement released Monday.

The case garnered an emotional following as prosecutors argued the shooting was premeditated and fueled by hate. McInerney's attorney argued that King, who was gay, bullied the shooter. The defense never denied that McInerney shot and killed King.

 

Mistrial in Oxnard
School Shooting Trial

Oxnard Teen Could
Face Life Sentence For...

"We must never forget that Lawrence Fobes King is the victim. He faced challenges in his young life at least as severe as those of the defendant. As the victim began to explore his sexual identity, he was ostracized and ridiculed by many of his classmates. There was no evidence that he inappropriately touched, 'bullied' or harmed anyone," wrote prosecutors.

The nine-week trial was declared a mistrial in September, with seven jurors voting for manslaughter and five for murder.

In Monday's deal, McInerney pled guilty to both murder and voluntary manslaughter and admitted using a firearm in the killing, according to the DA.