Kentucky School Shooter Give 2 Life Terms

Kentucky School Shooter Give 2 Life Terms

Gabriel Parker, now 18, has been sentenced to two life sentences for killing two classmates at his high school in 2018. He will received an additional 70 years in prison for 14 counts of assault.

The shooting took place on Jan. 23, 2018 at Marshall County High School.

The shooter pleaded guilty in April to two counts of murder and 14 counts of assualt. According to court documents, he will be eligible for parole in 20 years. He was 15 years old when he fired a handgun at the school, killing Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope. Both victims were 15 years old.

Sheriff's deputies disarmed and took the shooter into custody after the shooting at the high school in Benton. He was charged as an adult.

Marshall County Circuit Judge James Jameson, who graduated from that high school, said "I just can't imagine what happened that day" and he fought back tears in addressing the families of the victims.

"There's no real justice to be had here, for any of you," Jameson said, according to video of the proceedings from CBS affiliate KFVS. "We can't give you your children back."

Addressing Parker, Jameson said, "there's no way that can be given," and he said, "it's just a senseless murder of two individuals," and damage to others.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Safeguarding Stony Brook University Hospital: HALO’S Commitment to Health & Safety

    The healthcare industry is experiencing an alarming escalation of violence, including an increase in threats against healthcare workers. As a result, it is looking for ways to be proactive and protect its staff and patients.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,  the rate of injuries from violent attacks against medical professionals grew by 63% from 2011 to 2018 and hospital safety directors say that aggression against staff escalated as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified in 2020.      Read Now

  • Alleviating Stress, Building Confidence, and Creating Safer Schools Through Empowerment

    An active shooter situation is often cited as being extremely rare among school violence incidents in our country. Nevertheless, when one occurs, it’s always devastating, often unpredictable, and evolves quickly. Whether at a school, a house of worship, or anywhere for that matter, one is still too many. Read Now

  • 4 Killed, 9 Injured at Georgia High School Shooting

    Four people were killed and nine were injured hospitalized after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday. Read Now

  • 5 Partnerships that Can Strengthen Campus Security

    Most campuses do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of a broader community like a town, a borough, a city, a county, or a state. As such, there are a host of external resources available to help them through a crisis: from emergency responders such as police, EMTs and firefighters to mental health counselors, local emergency management departments, and media outlets. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars