Boy’s Killing, Labeled a Hate Crime, Stuns a Town

The New York Times ^ | February 23, 2008 | Rebecca Cathcart

[FoxInSocks]

OXNARD, Calif. — Hundreds of mourners gathered at a church here on Friday to remember an eighth-grade boy who was shot to death inside a junior high school computer lab by a fellow student in what prosecutors are calling a hate crime.

In recent weeks, the victim, Lawrence King, 15, had said publicly that he was gay, classmates said, enduring harassment from a group of schoolmates, including the 14-year-old boy charged in his death.

<snip>

Prosecutors charged Brandon as an adult with murder as a premeditated hate crime and gun possession. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 52 years to life in prison.

A senior deputy district attorney, Maeve Fox, would not say why the authorities added the hate crime to the murder charge.

<snip>

[brytlea]

How long would he face for murder if it wasn’t a *hate crime*?
susie

[FoxInSocks]

Jeez. I began posting the article from a third-party source, but decided to link to the original article at NYT, which has a different title: "Boy’s Killing, Labeled a Hate Crime, Stuns a Town."

Please correct the title, if you would be so kind.

[El Sordo]

Smells funny.

I suspect there is more to it.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Smells funny.

I suspect there is more to it.

Yes, Oxnard.

[RoadKingSE]

15 year-old 8th grader?

[ARE SOLE]

Doug Mcintyre KABC 790 discussed this recently. His concern was parents and school officials that allowed this young victim to attend school wearing womens clothing. The kid had some major issues.

Doug's concern was that some other equally messed up kid would react in exactly the way this went down.

Regards

[trumandogz]

I don’t care if he killed a Cross Dresser or an Eagle Scout.

It is murder, not a hate crime. Lock him up for life.

[ARE SOLE]

Fine with me.

[haroldeveryman]

1. “In interviews, classmates of the two boys at E. O. Green Junior High School said Lawrence had started wearing mascara, lipstick and jewelry to school, prompting a group of male students to bully him.”
2. “Lawrence wore his favorite high-heeled boots most days....”

Where were the parents of that 13 year old? In an insane asylum? And what were the teachers and school administrators doing? Spending their days stoned on LSD? They all ought to be given a fair trial (just as if they were adults) then dropped onto some iceberg to spend the rest of their lives conducting a vigil against hate crimes. They’re more dangerous than other the kid that they let in the school with a gun. I mean how does a 13 year old boy get into school day after day dressed like that?

[skinkinthegrass]

Hey, who care?...this is more B.S. from NYT....and yet; the LMSM, ignored the 2 gays men's trial, who violently raped/killed a Midwestern (non-gay) boy over years ago....
*s*....of course, that (the latter) was all, just for fun . */s*

[Rosemont]

Aren’t all murders hate crimes?

[purpleraine]

I guess this is compared to murders which are love crimes.

[svcw]

Since when is shooting someone in anger and premeditated not a hate crime?

[17th Miss Regt]

The boy was in Casa Pacifica, a place for extremely troubled youths. Parents could not handle him. Articles are in the Ventura County Star. There is a lot that is not coming out in the media.

[an amused spectator]

Prosecutors charged [14-year-old] Brandon as an adult with murder as a premeditated hate crime and gun possession.

Ever notice how flexible "adulthood age" is with today's prosecutors?

I don't think the Founders envisioned a crowd of OCD bureaucrats with blank checkbooks running the country...

[trumandogz]

It would appear that the Death Penalty is not an option in this case.

If it were, I would be all for the sick ____ getting the needle.

[MacDorcha]

Or the even more rare neutrality crimes.

[haroldeveryman]

“The boy was in Casa Pacifica, a place for extremely troubled youths.”

Thank you! That fact puts an whole different perspective on things. I take back what I said the victim’s parents and the school officials.

So the real story here once again is the press, particularly the New York Times. It’s amazing how the by the omission of one little fact this rag can turn the killing of one troubled youth by another extremely troubled youth and make it seem like their version of “typical Americana: America’s hatred of those who are different.” At least it worked on me.