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Michael Carneal, then 14, opened fire in 1997 on his Kentucky high school classmates. He is currently eligible for parole.
Three Heath High School students were killed and five other people were injured in the near-miss shooting. Paducah in KentuckyIn December 1997, during a pre-school prayer meeting. Carneal dropped his weapon, and the principal led him to the school’s office.
Because his life sentence was guaranteed parole after 25 year, which is the maximum sentence for someone his age, he’s now eligible to be paroled.
Carneal is now 39 years old and will be appearing in parole court this week.
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Michael Carneal was just 14 years old when he shot his Kentucky high school classmates.
Missy Jenkins Smith, one of the victims, kept track how long Carneal had before he was eligible for parole.
She recalls thinking to herself that “Twenty-five year seemed like such a long, so distant” at the time he was sentenced.
Jenkins Smith was just 15 when Carneal shot her. He was a close friend. She is now paralysed and can only use a wheelchair for mobility.
“I would think, ‘It’s been 10 years. How many years more? At the 20-year anniversary memorial, I thought, ‘It’s coming up.'” She said.
She believes Carneal shouldn’t be free. She worries that he may not be able to manage life outside of prison, which could cause harm to others. It is also not right for him to live a normal lifestyle after his experience.
“To give him a chance at 39. When they turn 39, most people marry. Jenkins Smith stated that they have children. He cannot possibly live a normal lifestyle that the three girls he murdered will never enjoy.
The Students were killed in the shootingNicole Hadley was 14 years old, Jessica James was 17 and Kayce Steger was 15 years.
In December 1997, Carneal shot five people and killed three Heath High School student. It happened during a prayer meeting before school.
Jenkins Smith visited Carneal while he was in prison in 2007 and apologized. She told him she was sorry but that he still had to pay for his actions.
She said, “Many people believe that exonerates him of consequences.”
Carneal’s parole hearing will begin Monday with testimony by the victims of the shooting and the close relatives of the deceased. Jenkins Smith claimed that she has only one victim who believes Carneal deserves supervised release. It would be less restrictive than prison, but it would not be unrestricted liberty.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of Nicole Hadley, Jessica James, and Kayce Steger, both aged 14 years.
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The Kentucky State Reformatory in La GrangeCarneal will be heard.
The parole hearing will take place virtually via video conference. Jenkins Smith indicated that she will position the camera so that her whole body can be seen in order to show parole board members her wheelchair.
She stated it will serve as a reminder to all those who were affected 25 years ago are still dealing with the impact for the rest their lives.
This report was compiled by the Associated Press.
