The Murder of Larry King

“Where are the civil rights of the one being taunted by another person that is cross-dressing,” two teachers asked on stand during the murder trial of Brandon David Mcinerney, a student who stood up in the middle of the class at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, California, removed a gun from his bookbag, and fatally shot Lawrence “Larry, Latisha” King,

Another teacher, Shirley Brown, sympathized with Brandon on the stand. She said she would “take violent action” if put in the same situation, although she did clarify, “I don’t know if I would have taken a gun, but a good swift kick in the butt might work really well.”

Teacher after teacher echoed similar sentiments on the stand at the murder trial, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial two months later after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict in the guilt or lack thereof of Brandon McInerney.

Exactly what could Larry that was so harsh, so callous, that teachers who saw him in class every day, who spoke to the 15-year-old regularly, could defend the boy who took his life?

Teasing & Bullying

Larry was a gay, non-conforming teenager and Brandon was one of many students at E.O. Green who teased and taunted the teen because he wore dresses and makeup. Larry already had enough emotional baggage at home stemming from personal issues without the added stress of kids picking on him for being himself. Larry was homeless at the time of his murder, living in a foster care center after his foster family kicked him out of their home and filed charges against him for stealing food out of the refrigerator weeks earlier.

The foster care center helped Larry become more comfortable with himself. He began to wear dresses and makeup which led to other kids teasing and ridiculing him. They also bullied his younger brother, Rocky. Things became so bad, Assistant Principal Sue Parsons issued a statement to teachers regarding Larry King, although many felt it was a political move favoring Epstein.

“We have a student on campus who has chosen to express his sexuality by wearing make-up. It is his right to do so. Some kids are finding it amusing, others are bothered by it. As long as it does not cause classroom disruptions he is within his rights. We are asking that you talk to your students about being civil and non-judgmental. They don't have to like it but they need to give him his space. We are also asking you to watch for possible problems. If you wish to talk further about it please see me or Joy Epstein.:”

Larry ‘Fights’ Back

Fed up with being bullied all day, every day at school with little recourse from teachers who felt him dressing in girl’s clothing was “distracting,” Larry decided to fight back.

Not physically, but with his own taunting and teasing. When boys in the locker room would tease him, Larry would respond by telling them he knew they wanted him, that they looked attractive or asking to sit at the lunch table with them. Some of the boys were so offended by Larry’s remarks, they reported it to the teacher!

(Just like a bully…can dish it but can’t take it.)

A week and one-half before the murder, Larry asked to be called by the name Latisha.

Larry Asks Brandon to be his Valentine

A day or two before the shooting, King walked onto the basketball court in the middle of a game and in front of the team and a crowd of people and asked McInerney to be his Valentine. McInerey’s teammates immediately began to laugh and make fun of Brandon.

On February 11, King passed McInerney in a hallway and shouted out, “Love you baby.” A group of students laughed at McInerney as he became red-faced and angry. He was so angry, he attempted to recruit other kids to assault Larry. No one accepted the offer.

Still enraged, McInerney told Larry’s friend to tell him goodbye because “she would never see him again.”

McInerney Shoots King in Computer Class

On the morning of the shooting, February 12, McInerney stared King down during their computer laboratory class. At 8:15 a.m. he retrieved a .22 caliber revolver from his backpack and shot Larry twice in the back of the head. He tossed the gun on the floor and walked out of the classroom. Police caught him five blocks away.

Larry was rushed to St. John’s Regional Medical Center. On February 13, he was declared brain dead. His family kept him alive two additional days while they prepared his organs for donation.

McInerney’s Trial

McInerney’s was taken into custody. Hundreds of people in the community, including E.O. Green teachers, petitioned for McInerney to be tried as a juvenile rather than an adult.

His first trial began on July 5, 2011 and ended in mistrial on September 1, 2011. Prosecutors decided to try McInerey a second time, but this time, dropped an original hate crime charge against him. McInerey pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and use of a firearm to avoid a trial. He was sentenced to 21-years in prisno.

He is currently imprisoned at the Folsom Correctional Facility with a projected release date in 2025.