Gay Eighth Grader Fatally Shot

Jim Burroway

February 14th, 2008

Lawrence King Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student at at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California was shot at least twice in the head by another classmate last Tuesday. Fellow students say that King was gay and was often taunted by fellow students.

King was rushed to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where he was initially listed in critical condition. By the end of the day, his condition was reportedly improving. But today we learn that he has been declared brain dead by two neurosurgeons at the hospital on Wednesday at 2 pm. He is being kept on life support so his organs can be harvested for transplant.

Police said the 14-year-old Brandon McInerney shot King at the start of the school day and fled the campus. He was arrested by police a few blocks away. Today, prosecutors charged him with premeditated murder, with a special allegation of using a firearm in the commission of a hate crime. Once King is removed from life support, prosecutors have indicated they will try McInerney as an adult.

Lawrence’s father described his son as “headstrong, confident, artistic and sweet“:

Larry King loved to sing songs by folk rock trio Crosby, Stills and Nash, and was studying “The Star-Spangled Banner” in hopes of singing it at his younger brother’s baseball games, his father said. “He had a very gifted singing voice.”

…He also enjoyed using licorice sticks to catch crawdads at Bubbling Springs Park in Port Hueneme, where his family would go for his younger brother’s baseball games.

In 2001, the Journal of Public Health reported on the results of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which found that gay youth are almost twice as likely to be subjected to extreme forms of violence requiring medical attention. According to the Los Angeles Times, a 2002 California Department of Education study found that a student who is thought to be gay is five times more likely to be threatened or injured by a weapon. And yet in the face of all this, California social conservatives continue to express outrage that the California schools are required to address the problem of bullying in schools. In 2008, does it still require the tragic death of an eighth grader to justify safe schools for everyone?

Zeke

February 14th, 2008

“…gay youth are almost twice as likely to be subjected to extreme forms of violence requiring medical attention.”

“almost twice as likely”?

It’s very hard for me to believe that gay people aren’t WAY more than twice as likely to be subjected to extreme forms of violence than non-gay people.

Benton

February 15th, 2008

When I was a kid, that was the favorite taunt, “Ben’s a fag!” I can’t believe it has changed much.

Timothy Kincaid

February 15th, 2008

Thanks for writing about this. I was waiting to see if it really was a gay hate crime – and it was. How horrifying. And infuriating. And challenging.

SharonB

February 15th, 2008

Ya know, isn’t it downright ironic how the RR likes to state how much GLBT people are a “threat to society?”

Yup, we just go out and mow down heterosexuals on a daily basis.

:/

Seems like the only people really gunning anyone down is the anti-gay crowd. Talk about the REAL threat.

Suricou Raven

February 15th, 2008

Standard RR response to this event:

1. This wasn’t a hate crime at all – he was gay, he was shot, that doesn’t mean he was shot because he was gay. We think he was shot for drugs.

2. The police are giving undue attention to this crime because the victim was gay, and this is unconstitutional.

3. Well, it was his own fault for telling everyone he was gay! If he has just stayed in the closet, or better yet not chosen to be gay, he would still be alive.

4. Oh, everyone knows that homosexuals are more violent! Thats why they dress in leather and carry whips. We have proof. Studies show it. Trust us.

Suricou Raven

February 15th, 2008

Ah, here we go:

http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2008/02/reporting-ill-1.html

They didn’t make use of any of my predicted responses in this case, instead giving the murder only a brief mention before moving on to explain that Christian children are not safe from brainwashing by the Gay Agenda in public schools.

Liz Ditz

February 16th, 2008

Go read Karoli’s open letter to the anti-gay astroturf lobbying group, SaveOurKids:

http://www.drumsnwhistles.com/2008/02/16/open-letter-to-saveourkidsnet/

This is just tremendously sad.

Lusitanian

February 16th, 2008

You should check the reaction of Freepers to the news; they called the boy “The sick freak”. Those conservative Chritians dolove us.

Eddie89

February 19th, 2008

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if “Rev.” Fred Phelps and his clan show up at the funeral with signs reading that Larry is burning in hell.

I lay blame for Larry’s murder directly at the Christian fundamentalist’s feet!

kornzilla

February 25th, 2008

And, where did he get the gun? And, who showed him how to or not to use it? I am starting to hate this Walmart/fake/hatful/lame/counrty every day more and more. People kill each other with guns everyday in this country the same way they eat a hamberger. Knowbody givs a crap and now this child is dead for no reason and the shooter is going to jail for the rest of his life. We’ll make a movie about is so we can all feel better about ourselves.

And, who is Suricou Raven? i’d like to meet you some day.

Dyl

March 1st, 2008

THIS IS SO SICKENING… WHen we have people out there that have views of “GAYS ARE NOT LOVED BY GOd.” and etcetera… I hate modern day society… WEll… I give support to all of you guys and gals who choose to be this way.. hell.. im Bi myself.

Nancy

March 3rd, 2008

I must have slept through this lesson in Sunday School but when did God say that hating was ok?

Dez

April 21st, 2008

Who cares whether the kid got shot or not? If he chose to exploit himself as being gay then he put himself at risk. I’ve met a lot of gay people, and they are all the same. They think that just because they are gay people have to respect them and pity them. I have zero respect for the way they live and zero respect for the person. I think it’s complete crap that all of these people are getting mad over it because its the kids fault for coming out like that. He can burn in hell for all i care,

Day of silence

April 25th, 2008

Today many members of my school are honoring this child
by having a day of silence. I am paticipating because no child should die because he or she is differant. To all you ignorant fool(Dez,Suricou Raven) and all else who agree, all I have to say is that no child however differant they should be should ever have to fear for thier lives. Any child should have the freedom to express who they are without fear of discrimination. Tell me Dez and Suricou Raven what would you say had this been your child. My sympathies go out to Lawrence’s family. I will think of your son often

Dez

May 5th, 2008

Day of Silence. I’m still 18 frst of all and i would never let my kid become a freak like that. If they want to be gay then go somewhere where they fags get married or exist like Canada. The kids parents knew he was getting picked on yet they still allowed him to go to that school. Its no one elses fault except theirs they were the retards that put their fag kid into the school.

Timothy Kincaid

May 5th, 2008

Dez,

Please refer to our comments policy before you next comment. Derogatory terms are not allowed, and your age and immaturity do not give you license to behave boorishly.

Joel

May 5th, 2008

“I’m still 18 frst of all and i would never let my kid become a freak like that. ”
Wow… as if it was something you had to do to make them gay… you have a ~10% to have a gay kid. Nothing you do or not will stop it.

Sure you can MAKE HIM behave like you want him to(before hes too old). But that is irrelevant to the fact that hes gay/bi/transexual.

A quote from a movie comes to mind, Dez “has never been inclined to accept human nature”, but i bet heterosexual promiscuity is jsut dandy for you.

“They think that just because they are gay people have to respect them and pity them. I have zero respect for the way they live and zero respect for the person.”
I dont think gays want pity from ppl, respect however i believe everyone wants. if you dont want to rationally face this matter but rather out of pure ‘instinctive’ disgust then your no better than an animal, and deserve to be treated like such, imo.

Dez

May 6th, 2008

To everyone who has seen my last messages, I will be the first to appologize for my reactions to this entire story.i had no right to lash out the way i did, and i am truly sorry for what i had said. I guess i was just reacting to what my dad told me to say, and i really wasnt thinking when i posted those comments. If anyone knows what i can do to get help with my “issues” then please tell me how i can get some help because there are a couple gay kids in our school, and im afriad that i will end up doing something to them…not like killing or anything though. so if anyone can like email me or something then that would be greatly appreciated.

Timothy Kincaid

May 6th, 2008

Dez,

Your school has counselors or at least a health staff. Talk to them. They can direct you to appropriate help.

Judy

May 6th, 2008

Dez,

why would you apologize for something thats true? Its pathetic. Dont just throw everything you said away because you want to be “nice.”

Dez

May 6th, 2008

Judy,

No, what i said was wrong, and me just lashing out like that was stupid. So yeah i am gonna get help jeez.

Day of silence

May 8th, 2008

Dez,
You do not have to agree to everything we believe. I was only asking for you to have an open mind. I am glad you do realize how harsh you were sounding but we all have our ups and downs believe me (lol). To Judy: At seventeen I am more mature than you will ever hope to be. You have a right to your own opinion, but to think that any person should die for not being you is cruel. And disgusting. You are disgusting. Dez try talking to these homosexual people. You’ll probably find they are as normal as the next person. Or you won’t but it won’t be because they are gay. I really hope you are okay. Just think about what you are doing. Post a message if you need something, Im usually around

Dez

May 13th, 2008

Hey man(or chick) thanks a lot for understanding. I do need someone to talk to, and i have actually talked to someone about my problem, and it has helped me out a lot. Im still getting heat from my dad about it but i dont care cuz i have to work with this gay guy at delgrossos so i have to get used to it somehow. dezdfg@yahoo.com is my email if you wanna talk

Deseray Smith

May 13th, 2008

Judy you seriously need to stop coming here if the only thing you are going to do is force your opinion on everyone else,and if i can be the bigger person and say im wrong then so can you

Judy

May 13th, 2008

why are myt comments deleted when Dez’s and everyone elses comments arent i think this whole thing is a joke its called freedom of speech, and mine has just been violeted.

Jim Burroway

May 13th, 2008

Your comments were deleted because they violate our comments policy. This is not an any-thing goes forum. You came in here and essentially defended comments that advocated violence. That person who advocated violence expressed a change of heart and you have repeatedly chastised him for it.

We do not condone violence, nor do we condone anyone who supports it or supports others who support it.

If you’re looking for “freedom of speech”, get your own blog where you can approve of any violent expression. That what the first amendment is really all about. But it doesn’t mean we have to publish your nonsense here.

Day of Silence

May 13th, 2008

Dez,
Just got your message. I’d be happy to email you anytime. I think it’s great that you can accept that you have to deal with that guy at work. Just don’t talk to your dad about that topic anymore to avoid fights. I’m going out of town to visit my new nephew, so it will probably be a couple of days before I can email you. I look foward to talking with you.

P.s (chick) lol

Dez

May 13th, 2008

Thank you so much i cant wait till i get the chance to blow off all of my access steam. Im glad that Judy got her commentas erased cuz i really dont want someone to try to make me feel bad that i want to try to be nicer Im the only girl in my family who feels that way and u kinda feel left out…Day of Silence…chick got that ROFL

Judy

May 13th, 2008

So me trying to reconvince Dez is a bad thing? I think thats a bunch of bull you should be deleting her messages then if you are going to delete mine. so what she said she was sorry that doesnt mean anything but shes bending her choices for everyone else who disagrees with her

Timothy Kincaid

May 13th, 2008

Judy,

Yes, trying to reconvince Dez to support violence is a bad thing. And if you wish to do so, you need to take it elsewhere. We will not allow you to advocate for violence here at Box Turtle Bulletin.

Joel

May 13th, 2008

As if censorship proved or had a substantial reason to be. I understand this is a private blog.. but srsly… censoring her, imo, is counterproductive to the intention and purpose of BTB.

Jim Burroway

May 13th, 2008

Well actually the intention and purpose of any blog is up to the people who run it. In our case, we have documented our intentions in our Mission and Principles, which serve as the basis for our Comments Policy.

We encourage civil debate, and as part of that we welcome contrary opinions. But we are serious when we insist that the debate be civil and based on facts, not rumor or conjecture — or strawmen, etc. And we most certainly do not intend to publish advocacy of violence in any form.

In other words, we intend for this forum to rise above what has come to pass as debate in this country. I beleive that most people who visit this blog appreciate the difference. If they want mindless chattering, there’s always DailyKos or Drudge.

Matt

June 9th, 2008

For those of you that said this was not a gay hate crime, you are way wrong, this kid asked his killer to be his valentine, and for a simple task to celebrate valentines day with some one he was murdered.

kayla

June 13th, 2008

aso added to the story the victim asked the killer 2 days earlier to be his valintine =( this is sad and so stupid to kill somone for that just say no you dont have to kill an innocint person!

kayla

June 13th, 2008

opps when i posted this i didnt read matts comment so you already knew the first part sorry

Rogue

December 5th, 2008

I heard about this story today and it truly made me weak. Larry King will live on in those he has helped with his very own flesh and blood. The younger child’s parents are hopefully catching up to the pain and suffering their son has caused. I doubt it, but there is always hope. Tolerance. Freedom of speech. Freedom of Religion. Freedom of choice. These are the things we need to be implementing, not the if they are in any way different from you hate them, tease them, make them suffer.
Dez,
I find your actions commendable. To admit maybe you too are spewing forth the same closed-minded “family values” without your own actual thoughts, and then realize maybe there is more than just your family’s belief system out there. I too was once there. I grew up in a strict Republican home. My grandfather was even a Judge and highly regarded. SO when I came out and declared not only was I choosing not to be Republican but I am also a lesbian, well lets just say they are still adjusting. Good luck to you and I hope you continue to get the support you deserve and open yourself up to new people.

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