.
September 6th, 2011
09:48 PM ET
Video: Classroom murder case ends in mistrial
Editor's note: A judge declared a mistrial after jurors were deadlocked in the trial of a teen accused of gunning down a classmate.
|
|
Filed under: 360° Radar • 360º Follow |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
Subscribe to the AC360 podcast on iTunes!
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
I watched this report last night. I found the events to be so sad and disturbing. The story has remained in my thoughts, not only because of the tragedy that occurred, but because I was appalled by the ending comment of the reporter. She ended the report by saying that the victim, Lawrence King, did not even get a chance to "blend in." Is that the message you want to send – that one should attempt to "blend in" to avoid being a victim of violence???? I surely hope not. I think it would have been far healthier and appropriate to continuously stress to the young individuals in school that we must appreciate each other's differences and to encourage our young people to be unafraid to be themselves. Adolescents are already struggling with self-esteem issues and to imply that to "blend in" would have been a healthier option was plain wrong.
I was appalled by the coverage of this story! The problem is not that a teenage boy was incensed, threatened, or offended by another student and then decides to kills him. The problem is that a kid can come to school with a gun and end up killing another kid. This system failed them both! When I was growing up many a kid would get the crap beaten out of them for far greater grievances...but they survived. If we had guns available to use, who knows what would have happened? When are we going to wake up to the fact that adolescents cannot be trusted with their own lives, let alone the lives of others when they are upset?!
Why isn't Brandon parents facing trial? How did he obtain the gun? When you have a child showing extreme signs of violent anger, you as parents should quickly intervene. This is adult non-supervision and the parents, school administration should be held accountable. School should be a place kids should go just to learn. No drama, no distractions. The case of these two boys should have been addressed by school authorities,together with their parents, if deserved attention was paid.