Brandon McInerney was a fourteen year old living in California when he would fatally shoot Larry King inside of a classroom
According to court documents fifteen year old Larry King was an openly gay student who attended E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California along with Brandon McInerney. Larry had the habit of making passes at Brandon which was not well received
On February 12 2008 Brandon McInerney would walk up to Larry King who he would then shoot twice in the head. Brandon would then drop the gun into his backpack and left the school premises
Larry King would be rushed to the hospital where he remained on life support for two days before dying from his injuries
Brandon McInerney would be arrested and charged with murder. During the first trial the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision. Before the second trial was to begin Brandon would take a plea deal which would send him to prison for 21 years
Brandon McInerney Current Information
Name
MCINERNEY, BRANDON
CDCR Number
AK7143
Age
32
Current Location
Male Community Reentry Program – Kern County
Admission Date
Jan 26 2012
Commitment County
Ventura
Brandon McInerney Case
California teenager Brandon McInerney, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of a gay student, was sentenced Monday to 21 years in prison.
McInerney, now 17, didn’t speak at the proceeding but his lawyer said the teen is deeply remorseful for his actions.
McInerney pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and use of a firearm as part of a plea deal reached in November.
McInerney was 14-years-old when he pulled a gun out of his backpack and fatally shot 15-year-old Larry King at point-blank range at the E.O. Green Junior High School in 2008.
Brandon McInerney, 17, didn’t speak at the hearing but his lawyer Scott Wippert said his client was sorry for killing 15-year-old Larry King.
“He feels deeply remorseful and stated repeatedly if he could go back and take back what he did he would do it in a heartbeat, Wippert said.
King’s family said they couldn’t forgive their son’s killer.
“You took upon yourself to be a bully and to hate a smaller kid, wanting to be the big man on campus,”‘ King’s father, Greg King, said on behalf of his wife. “`You have left a big hole in my heart where Larry was and it can never be filled.”‘
A mistrial was declared in September after a hung jury couldn’t decide on murder or manslaughter.
McInerney then pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, and in return, prosecutors agreed not to go forward with the second trial, which could have ended with a life sentence for the 17-year-old.
Leading up to the February 2008 killing, teachers and students saw a dispute growing between the victim and McInerney, who shot King twice in the head in a computer lab at E.O Green Junior High. .
McInerney, then 14, had reached an emotional breaking point after King made repeated, unwanted sexual advances toward him and other boys, defense lawyers said. In the weeks leading up to the shooting, school administrators allowed King to wear heels and makeup because federal law provides the right of students to express their sexual orientation.
Prosecutors said the shooting in front of stunned classmates was first-degree murder and that McInerney should be punished as an adult. They argued the shooting was a hate crime, an aspect jurors rejected, after authorities found white supremacist materials in McInerney’s home.
