BLOG POST #253: This week, I’m sharing research on a true-crime case involving middle school students.
I first shared this case in October 2018 – you can read it here: The Bullied Student Who Persevered. I looked into a possible follow up post on the victim and found an amazing survival journey that warranted an update. Read More
BLOG POST #252: Research on a true-crime involving a bullied 8-year-old boy.
After an 8-year-old boy took his own life, the incident warranted an investigation. The authorities felt there had to be more to it—an 8-year-old doesn’t commit suicide. Read More
BLOG POST #251: Research on an incident involving a middle school teacher.
This school bullying case differs from most. In this true-crime case, there were several bullies in a classroom tormenting a student—including the teacher. Read More
BLOG POST #250: Spreading False Rumors
Toward the end of the 2018-2019 school year, at a charter school in Colorado, eleven students and their families were forever changed—two shooters, eight injured and one who died.
The night prior to the school shooting, according to the arrest warrant, a female student (16-years-old) transitioning to become a male messaged her friend, an 18-year-old male, and told him to stay away from the school the next day.
The girl who had sent the message the night before told her friend she felt suicidal, wanted revenge on certain students at the school for spreading false rumors about her and that she’d also considered killing her mother and siblings.
The friend gave the shooter a ride to his house where they talked about the girl’s state of mind. She asked where the friend’s parents’ gun safe was located. With an ax and a crowbar, they pried open the safe door.
The two students drove back to the school armed with several handguns, a rifle and ammunition.
Both friends covered the doors to a specific classroom. When the boy saw the girl grab her weapon he grabbed his, bursting into the room wielding the weapon and yelled for everyone to get down. Two students charged and tackled the boy, causing his gun to fire—one of those brave students lost his life in his attempt to protect his classmates.
The court determined the younger student (the primary shooter) would be tried as an adult. Charged with multiple offenses, the younger student agreed to plead guilty to first-degree murder and 16 other counts.
At the sentencing, the school shooter said,
I killed their innocence. I killed their ambitions. And I killed their sense of security. I not only physically killed people, I mentally killed people too. I don’t know how to describe the sorrow I feel when I think of the victims.”
The judge sentenced her to LIFE in prison with the possibility of parole.
Worth Mentioning: The friend who the students tackled pleaded not guilty. His trial is postponed. I’ll do a follow-up on this case after he’s been sentenced.
What are your thoughts about this case? Join the conversation on the website. We talk about true-crime and books.
Do you know of a crime you’d like to share? Email me so we can discuss the details.
Thanks for reading!
-Robin
If you or anyone you know may be considering suicide, please call the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).
If you or anyone you know has made mention of a possible school threat, please call (anonymously) Crimestoppers Safe School Hotline at (877) 903-STOP (7867). They also have an easy to use app for iPhones and androids.
Source: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, CBS 4 Denver, CBS New 9, The Denver Post, ABC News
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It’s back-to-school time across the U.S. As students return to schools, a few will be bullies resuming their pattern of perpetual torment.
BLOG POST #243: This week, I’m sharing an update to a true-crime case shared previously about a 16-year-old bullied high school student. Read More