Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student at E.O. Green Middle School in Ventura County, California, was shot and killed by a classmate in February. Brandon McInerney, only 14 years old, was charged as an adult in the shooting. Students say McInerney targeted King because he was openly gay.
A coalition of 27 groups fighting for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, including Lambda Legal, is urging prosecutors to try McInerney in juvenile court, and not as an adult.
"We call on prosecutors not to compound this tragedy with another wrong," the statement says. "The facts in this matter seem clear: one boy killed another in a climate of intolerance and fear about sexual orientation and gender expression….[but] prosecuting the alleged perpetrator as an adult will not bring Lawrence King back nor will it make schools safer for LGBT youth.
"We must respond to this tragedy by strengthening our resolve to change the climate in schools, eliminate bigotry based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and hold schools responsible for protecting students against discrimination and physical harm."
According to research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children sent to adult court are more likely to re-offend than those committing similar offenses who remain in the juvenile justice system.
