STEM School shooting planner sentenced to life in prison with possibility of parole
UPDATE: Alec McKinney was sentenced to life in prison Friday with an automatic possibility of parole after 40 years. Minors who commit crimes cannot be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- After more than seven hours in the courtroom and dozens of tearful victim impact statements, McKinney received a life sentence for the murder of STEM School Senior, Kendrick Castillo. The defendant was also sentenced to 38 years for the other crimes he admitted to, including attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.
Castillo's parents both spoke before the judge calling McKinney a "domestic terrorist" who killed their son.
"You know smoke and mirrors, crocodile tears, lack of remorse all of those things are a reality. Don't be fooled, people. Don't be fooled by this defendant in this courtroom," is what John Castillo said about McKinney after the sentencing.
Maria Castillo, Kendrick's mother said, "my only wish is to see him dead, burning in hell."
Alec McKinney cried as he watched his teachers and fellow students recall the moments he and his co-conspirator opened fire inside the STEM School.
Prosecutors argue the teenager was responsible for planning the shooting and recruiting 18-year-old Devon Erickson to help him carry out the horrific event.
During the virtual hearing, dozens of people affected by the shooting testified before Judge Jeffrey Holmes.
The teenager was tried as an adult and faced more than 400 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges including first-degree murder relating to the death of Kendrick Castillo and the conspiracy to commit murder after deliberation.
According to our partners at 9News, due to McKinney's age at the time of the incident, he will automatically be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years related to the first-degree murder charges. Under Colorado law, defendants who commit crimes as juveniles cannot be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
The co-defendant, Devon Erickson has maintained his not-guilty plea and is scheduled to go to trial in September.
