Alleged Henrico school shooter to be tried as adult
HENRICO COUNTY
There were no injuries in the shootings at Virginia Randolph Community High School, but some witnesses said shots were fired from as close as 4 feet away.
A Virginia Randolph Community High School student who allegedly fired as many as five shots from a semi-automatic pistol at fellow students last month will be tried as an adult.
Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Denis F. Soden ruled this morning that Nicholas Moore, now 17, will stand trial as an adult in a case stemming from a lunchtime, playground shooting incident Sept. 16 at the school on Mountain Road.
Moore, who did not testify this morning, was arrested within an hour of the shooting after Henrico police shut off area roadways and responded in force.
No one was hurt in the incident but witnesses said this morning that Moore fired from as close as 4 feet away. Moore faces more than 60 years in prison if convicted on multiple weapons and attempted wounding charges, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Wade Kizer.
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If the Commonwealth cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the kid intended to shoot someone, it’s a misdemeanor.
§ 18.2-56.1. Reckless handling of firearms
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to handle recklessly any firearm so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
If the kid gets the full 60 years, what will he really serve? I remember George Allen passing some law called Truth in Sentencing, did that law get overwritten during all of the budget cuts since it was passed? I think this kid needs some kind of punishment, but I do not think it needs to be 60 years, because I think if he really wanted to kill someone, he would have. The fact is, he did not kill anyone, in fact, he did not hurt anyone. For some reason he drew attention to himself, the school, and the other kids that go to the school. I think we will find there is much more to this story, and I do not think much of it will be about his home life, but rather life at that school for him.
Bottom line is, society needs to make an impression with these kids that think its ok to bring or discharge a firearm at a school. Now, facing 60+ years is very different than getting 60+years. We all know, he wont get 60+ years. I doubt he gets 10, but he deserves ALOT more than 10, and based upon how he does while in jail, then and only then we think about early release. I agree people commiting harsher crimes are serving less time. And you point is? THIS WAS AT A SCHOOL VaLiberal, which I dont think to you matters based upon your comments. Its getting worse and worse at the schools. Something needs to give, so thats why longer jail times are now options for school related incidents.
I.e.
If you sell drugs at one place you get “X” amount of time. If you do the same thing but within a certain distance from a school you get “X” times 10.
Do you understand why its such a big deal and such a steep “potential” punishment?
Do you get it? ITS A SCHOOL. HE DID THIS AT A SCHOOL.
Apparently society gets it and sees the trend, because harsher sentences are being given to people doing “supremely stupid” crimes near/around/or at schools.
The burden of proof is on the Commonwealth. He was only 4 feet away and nobody was hit? How do you get attempted wounding, beyond a reasonable doubt?
That’s funny, tman, I was thinking the same thing about you.
What would have been the very first consequence if this teenager had actually succeeded? He would have taken a life, or even several lives. I really doubt that he can fully comprehend what that means even now.
There’s another news article about a man getting 40 years for strangling his mother so 60 years for a teenager for multiple weapon and attempted malicious wounding charges is excessive. It seems this society isn’t as interested in justice as it is in retribution, revenge and punishment.
Liberal society is too willing to offer excuses for too many bad choices made today. Too many second, third, or more chances for bad actors. A soft sentence simply means another chance to do some real and permanent harm. Put him away!
VaLib,
Yeah, I dont kill because I would go to jail. LOL I mean really, is that your response to my comments? I dont agree with some of the things you wrote, and its actually scary to think there are folks like you out there that want to make any excuse in the world other than facing the facts. Will putting him in jail stop others? Not all. Maybe not most, or lets even say NONE. Most importantly, HE would not get the chance anytime soon to be “supremely stupid”, as you put it. But letting him get off easy MOST DEFINITELY will show others its not that bad a thing to do and will only add to further events such as this occurring.
Not sure how you think I was saying I dont kill because I’d go to jail, but if thats your conclusion and response I see I dont have to attempt to show you what I mean, because you will never get it.
Too many unanswered questions here.
Where did this kid get a semi-automatic pistol? From home or did he steal the weapon? Any parent would be out of their mind to leave a gun around
for a troubled kid, or any child to get ahold of without a trigger lock.
Clearly he did not mean to shot anyone,
its kind of hard to miss a target at four feet. Not sure if he just wanted to look bad or his testerone was going amuck. Either way, he is in big time trouble now.
mine2,
I place no blame on the school and that’s why I said that a psych eval and a home study needed to be done before sentencing.
I’m glad your son is thriving and I wish him the best in all his endeavors. I know you’re proud of him.
I also want to add that choosing not to kill someone because the consequence is jail is a real shallow morality. Are you saying tman that the only reason you don’t do something is because you might get arrested for it? How about not doing something because it is wrong?
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