Calif. teen Brandon McInerney sentenced to 21 years for point-blank murder of gay classmate

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Brandon McInerney

/ Family Photo

(CBS/AP) OXNARD, Calif. - 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.

Larry King

/ Personal Photo

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.

Complete coverage of the E.O. Green School shooting on Crimesider

169 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 169 Comments


by Titouti June 1, 2012 7:37 AM EDT: First excuse my english I'm french.If Brandon had just beaten Larry it would have been a reasonable punishment but to kill him!!! Larry was smaller and weaker so don't talk about sexual assault please!!!I am a woman so if someone of the same sex that i don't want try to seduce me I would have the permit to kill?but if a man harasses me it is normal? if it is not an hate crime?! Brandon would NOT have reacted this way if Larry was a woman so stop blaming Larry because he loved someone who didn't!!!; Reply to this comment

by jduke29 May 15, 2012 3:17 PM EDT

The **** got exactly what he deserved. Let this be a warning To every one of u gay's that its not ok to sexually harass people. The only person i feel sorry for is this poor kid that has to sit in prison for way longer than he deserves.

I would curb check any **** that doesnt take no for an answer the first time I say it.

Reply to this comment


by tormedic912 November 13, 2012 12:02 AM EST: So by your reasoning if a secretary is sexually harassed by her boss she can pull out a gun and shoot him twice in the back of the head? Or is heterosexual harassment ok by you?


by hamiltongrad December 22, 2011 1:49 PM EST: This kid deserves punishment but 21 years ! That is way out of line, for a crime that he did not plan, that he "snapped". Andhe was only 14 years old at the time. Pain, puinshment and blame are not the answers. Understanding, listening and forgiveness are.; Reply to this comment


by milf0413 December 22, 2011 1:08 PM EST: Westside reader, you think killing someone is "taking it a little too far?" What fricken planet are you on??? Brandon killed Larry! I think he more than took it "a little too far"! He should get the same outcome that Larry did. Maybe if we as a society started making examples of these killers we'd have less of them. All we do is put them in jail, still alive. An eye for an eye! Teach them a lesson.; Reply to this comment

by Westside_Reader December 21, 2011 7:09 PM EST

Most people agree that yes, Brandon took it a "little too far," but I hadn't heard that he had a history of bullying other kids...But yes, this should serve as a cautionary tale for those inclined to make unwanted advances towards someone else....The person you target may be a ticking time bomb....Greg King may blovate all he wants, but his kid is dead and no law would deter what subsequently happened....If Larry had behaved differently towards others, he'd probably still be alive. I predict that such incidents will continue, no matter how much "outrage" occurs....Personally, I do not think the folks on Larry's side of the aisle really want to prevent these things from happening. Why, so they can hang this over the head of society, forcing people on a guilt trip, thus gaining more and more political power....

Prevention of these so-called hate crimes would require some people to exercise restraint and other forms of self-responsibility, and when was the last time people like Larry ever did that? lol

Reply to this comment


by MMBR50 January 19, 2012 5:30 PM EST: So, lets blame the victim, because somebody happens to be a ticking time bomb?!

by theangryman21 December 21, 2011 2:51 PM EST

Frankly what the hell is the world coming to when guys are allowed to wear high heels and makeup to school!!! Not to mention that this kid was allowed to get away with SEXUAL ASSUALT( that is what they call unwanted sexual advances) against his classmates, I bet if one of the boys kept doing that to one of the girls it never would have gone as far as it did. The problem is with the gay community always jumping down the throat of anyone that says anything against what they believe..basically 99% of gay people are nothing but RACISTS!!!

Reply to this comment


by MMBR50 January 19, 2012 5:34 PM EST: If this kis were guilty of sexual harassment or assault, then report him to school authorities, or to the police...and theangryman, I'd like to know where you get your info that 99% of gays are racist.


by Overruled1 December 21, 2011 2:50 PM EST: If he wasn't gay before the murder, he sure will be by the time he gets out....how ironic....he'll be carrying a cross for a long time.; Reply to this comment


by HighSchoolStudent December 21, 2011 12:15 PM EST: Coming from my atrium ten minutes ago there was a F'kin gay kid who was completley across the room & kept staring at me. He continued untill he literally came up and sat RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. i almost died ( heart stoped, shivering occured, and my temper arose. First thing i did was get up and walk away with extreme thoughts of anger. Its really pissing me off now. WHY CANT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPlE ARE NOT INTERESTED and we dont want you to act like your welcome....because you are not....
If your gay i dont have a problem. But this kid keeps TRYING to come around me and gives me looks that id rather be dead than look at, has Highlights in his hair, ITS LONG AS F'CK, straighter than a blondes and talks like a LADY. get the message, go find someone else to interest.
I think its cause i was in his/her class before - in grade 9 - now we're in grade 12. I only spoke to him/her before it came out of the closet. Now that he/she is DRASTICALLY out of the closet he/she DEMANDS attention like some Lil B'tch
Society needs to have classes for people so they can understand when someone isin't comfortable & when to step the f'k back.
& also have classes for people like brandon /others to figure out how to handle these situations.............
Demanding someone to like you doesnt seem to work these days.; Reply to this comment

by HighSchoolStudent December 21, 2011 12:43 AM EST

Ok , so i admit Brandon took it VERY far with the shooting .
Yet in this situation it seems like Brandon Couldn't get Larry to get away from him -Whether it be physically or mentally. Also advising the authorities wont help your emotional issues when it comes to dealing with certain people and how they treat you. And i guarantee ''talking'' about it to an adult wasn't on his mind. Same can be said for bullying.
And its sad but true that as a current high school student that is friends with most of the student body in a place that Canada claims to be ''THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITY'' i can strongly say that Brandon is NOT the only one with Strong negative thoughts towards people, whether its gays, whites, blacks, asians. But it just so happens that in Brandon's case, his hatred lead to a killing. because apparently Larry was trying to attract Brandon so consistently that Brandon felt way too insecure and reacted with impulse.
Overall there is A lot of hate in this world & people need to understand that just because people aren't acting like it, doesn't mean they aren't thinking it, feeling it.

Reply to this comment


by MMBR50 January 19, 2012 5:45 PM EST: He took a life...

by Kenhudson December 20, 2011 11:41 AM EST

This kid was obviously taught by his parents to be the way he was. There is no excuse for him. He should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Whether the other boy made advances ( which I doubt ) or not, this was not an excuse to kill him. His parents should be held accountable as well, had they not taught this kid to hate others who were different he would not have committed this outrageous crime!

Reply to this comment


by Drivelphobe001 December 20, 2011 11:51 AM EST: You should read the history of this situation before posting. There is substantial evidence that King taunted, teased, ridiculed and embarrassed McInerney with unrelenting fervor in front of his peers, the entire student body, and school staff, who did nothing. There were many complicit in this disaster. King was the initial cause of the whole thing. He paid for his bad judgement with an unpredictable outcome from his socially unacceptable actions. Sad for all involved, particularly McInerney.