February 2008- Shooting in California Jr. High

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Subject: February 2008- Shooting in California Jr. High Sun Jun 15 2008, 22:38

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February 2008- Shooting in California Jr. High LawrenceFobesKing

Quote :

At approximately 8:15 a.m., on February 12, 2008, an eighth grade 15-year-old boy, identified as Lawrence Fobes King (“Larry”) was shot in the head in a computer lab classroom. King was transported to St. John's Regional Medical Center and was listed in serious condition. Examiners declared King brain dead on February 13, 2008.King was kept on life support until February 15, 2008, so his organs could be donated. It was reported that King was shot because he was openly gay and sometimes dressed in a "feminine" manner. Prosecutors had discussed charging the alleged shooter, 14-year-old McInerney, with premeditated murder with enhancements for the use of a firearm and commission of a hate crime.

I did not personally know this boy, but he went to my junior high and he was my good friend's best friend. Larry was shot because he was gay. He told the shooter that he liked him, and got killed for it. I participated in the ''Tolerance/Peace Walk'' that weekend. The walk was organized by my close friend, who is in my school's GSA (Gay Straight Alliance). She got an award for what she did and Larry's parents were very grateful to her. Over 1,000 people showed up to the 3 mile walk and we had a police escort, though no problems arose. Intersections were stopped to let us cross.

What happened to Larry was inexcusable. The shooter's trial is this month, and he is (hopefully) going to be tried as an adult. If he is, he faces 25 years to life for first degree muder, 25 years to life for the use of a firearm, and 3-5 years for committing a hate crime. The shooter is 14-years-old... What has our world come to?

OMG!!! thats sad...only because he was gay?? That makes me mad that gay people and bisexauls cant even be treated fair, just because they like the same sex. I feel so sorry for his parents and family members who had their loved one tooken away because of that pathetic person's hate

wow. that's horrible. that's all i am gonna say about this topic, which would be gays...

dude, thats not right. People need to learn to be more accepting. We live in America, where freedom is granted to all, Life is included. Thats so... ugh. Words cant even describe it. I hope that kid gets life in prision or somthing like that. Mabey he can be punished like one girl who drank and drove and killed a man... she had to carry his picture in her wallet the rest of her life to remind herself what she had done.

Update!

Larry is still being remembered. Earlier this month, the one year anniversary of his death passed. People gathered for another, though smaller, walk. Unfortunately, I could not attend.

The shooter has still not been charged. His lawyer is fighting valiantly to have him tried as a juvenile.

» GRAPHICS VOTE : February
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» Forum Newsletter February-March 2009