No Death Penalty for Taylor's Killers; Fifth Suspect Charged; Suspect Pleads Guilty

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Stuck in TX

Its odd how once the death penalty is off the table another suspect comes foward

The Supreme Court has already ruled that it is unconstitutional to execute anyone for a crime committed while they were a minor, so the death penalty was never a possibility for the shooter, Eric Rivera, (17 at the time) or this individual (who is apparently 16). Even when the execution of minors was possible there were only three states (Texas, Oklahoma, and Virginia if memory serves) that had actually executed a minor in recent memory.

5-4 Supreme Court Abolishes Juvenile Executions (washingtonpost.com)