Kenny Bartley — the 15-year old killer in Campbell County’s school shooting — has taken a plea bargain. <\/p>\n
[Oak Ridger<\/a>] Kenneth Bartley Jr. agreed to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in the 2005 shootings at Campbell County Comprehensive High School.<\/p>\n
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He was sentenced to 45 years in adult prison.<\/p>\n
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<\/span>So, the last year’s worth of psychological evaluations, jury screenings, and various defense motions were really just a scheme to buy time — one last year of childhood in a life forever ruined by one fatal decision: the decision to shoot three high school administrators, instead of just handing over the gun.<\/p>\n
The latter would have meant a year’s expulsion from school, and probably charges handled in juvenile court. It might have turned him around.<\/p>\n
There were other bad decisions, of course; the decision to take the gun to school to trade for Oxycontin wasn’t too bright, nor was the desire to get Oxycontin to start with. I’m not sure how many years "45 years" really is, though I suspect it’s somewhat less. Maybe probation in 15, 20?<\/p>\n
However, I have to express my admiration for Jo Bruce, the widow of slain vice-principal Ken Bruce. She has continued her job in Willowbrook’s family resource center, working with families having difficulty… perhaps averting such a tragedy for someone else. She has become a quiet but tireless crusader for greater school safety. And, she endorsed the plea deal: <\/p>\n
Jo Bruce, the widow of the slain administrator, endorsed the plea bargain.<\/p>\n
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"We did the right thing. We feel like this will help our community start to heal. I think (my husband) Ken would say, job well done," Bruce said.<\/p>\n
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<\/span>In her shoes, I doubt I could summon the incredible grace she has displayed.<\/span>
<\/span> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kenny Bartley — the 15-year old killer in Campbell County’s school shooting — has taken a plea bargain. [Oak Ridger] Kenneth Bartley Jr. agreed to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder … Continue reading