A teen who pleaded guilty in the fatal Marshall County High School shooting in January 2018 appeared for his final sentencing Friday.
Gabe Parker entered guilty as part of a plea deal to two counts of capital murder and 14 counts of first-degree assault in connection to the January 23, 2018 shooting at the high school that claimed the lives of 15-year old Bailey Holt and 15-year old Preston Cope and injured several others.
As part of the final sentencing in Marshall County Circuit Court, several of the victims were allowed to give impact statements. The father of Preston Cope shared some of his memories of his son. He said Preston had a promising future and his life was taken by pure evil.
During the impact statement of Bailey Holt’s parents, her mother shared some of her memories of her daughter and said they have been sentenced to a lifetime of sadness.
Parker’s defense attorney, Tom Griffiths said he had heard repeatedly that Parker was evil. He said he had gotten to know Parker over the last two years and he disagrees that he is evil. He added he believes that he was a child that lost his way.
Circuit Judge James Jameson sentenced Parker to two counts of murder for two life sentences in prison. In addition, Parker received an additional 70-years in prison for 14 counts of assault and will be eligible for parole in 20 years.
