LOS ANGELES — A teenager pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in a plea deal that will send him to prison for 21 years and avoid a retrial in the death of a gay student during a computer lab class three years ago, authorities said.
Brandon McInerney, 17, pleaded guilty to the murder charge, as well as one count each of voluntary manslaughter and use of a firearm, said Ventura County Chief Deputy District Attorney Mike Frawley. McInerney is set to be sentenced Dec. 19.
The case drew wide attention because of its premise: McInerney, in a fit of homophobic rage, killed 15-year- old Larry King at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard because he was offended by King’s dress and how the victim interacted with him.
A mistrial was declared at a trial in September when jurors couldn’t agree on the degree of guilt.
![[prison 19] Caption: This is Cellhouse 1, Pod A, from ground level inside the Sterling Correctional Facility which is located outside of Sterling, Colorado Thursday afternoon. Photographer: LEW SHERMAN Title: FREELANCE Credit: SPECIAL TO THE POST City: Sterling State: CO Country: USA Date: 19990617 ObjectName: prison 19 Keyword: PUBDATE____1999_06_22](/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/20151207__denverpostp1.jpg?w=538 "20151207__denverpost~p1.jpg")
