A former high school student was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday after being convicted on 46 counts, including murder. 20-year-old Devon Michael Erickson and accomplice Maya McKinney killed one student and wounded eight others when they opened fire inside a Colorado classroom. The pair allegedly targeted their “transphobic” classmates, according to McKinney.
Erickson and McKinney committed the murder less than a week before graduation at STEM School Highlands Ranch. The two opened fire from two different locations, randomly shooting students. One student, Kendrick Castillo, was killed after attempting to disarm the shooter after his gun momentarily jammed.
According to a student, Devon Erickson allegedly pulled out a gun and yelled, “nobody move”. Kendrick Castillo then jumped on him and was fatally shot in the chest. Erickson was then subdued and disarmed by two other students. McKinney told police while in custody that he had targeted three students who bullied him for being transgender, but that he also wanted to make every student suffer like he had, according to the Denver Post.
McKinney, who was born born biologically female but identifies as male, pleaded guilty to 16 counts, including first-degree murder last February and is currently serving a life sentence. Since McKinney was a minor at the time of the shooting, they will be eligible for parole after 20 years.
As for Erickson, he was convicted on all 46 counts and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole this past Friday. A Douglas County jury convicted Erickson in June after a three-week trial that saw approximately 60 witnesses testify, including classmates and teachers. Judge Theresa Slade added 1,282.5 years to Devon Erickson’s life sentence for his role in the May 7, 2019, fatal shooting.
-CLASSROOM SHOOTING SUSPECT IN COURT-
Hanging his head, his face covered with purple/black hair, 18y Devon Erickson appears in court
Erickson is accused of bringing a firearm to STEM Highlands Ranch and opening fire. Another juvenile student also allegedly opened fire@CBSDenver pic.twitter.com/cGcZvAZdJK— Dillon Thomas (@DillonMThomas) May 8, 2019
