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The judge's decision Tuesday means Williams' case will be sent
to juvenile court and lead to his immediate release from prison
without parole supervision or evaluation, according to San Diego
County District Attorney Summer Stephan's office.
Prosecutors will challenge the ruling in the appellate court to
try to stop his release, the office said.
“As prosecutors, our duty is to ensure justice for victims and
protect public safety, and the defendant’s cruel actions in this
case continue to warrant the 50-years-to-life sentence that was
imposed,” Stephan said. “At some point our laws must balance the
rights of defendants, the rights of victims, and the rights of
the community to be safe.”
Williams' attorney did not immediately respond to an email
seeking comment.
Williams killed two students, 14-year-old Bryan Zuckor and
17-year-old Randy Gordon. He wounded 11 students and two staff
members.
Now age 39, he is currently being held at the California
Institution for Men in Chino and became eligible for parole in
September 2024.
He was denied parole after being deemed an “unreasonable risk to
public safety” by a state board, the San Diego Union-Tribune
reported. The board also said it was unclear if Williams
understood why he committed the shooting.
Prosecutors say Williams' case has been transferred to juvenile
court for a disposition hearing. Due to his age at the time of
his shooting, his convictions will be redesignated as juvenile
“true findings," after he will be released from prison and
potentially placed on juvenile probation, prosecutors said.
Williams was able to petition for resentencing due to a law
enacted in 2011 that allowed judges to give juvenile offenders
with life without parole sentences a chance to be resentenced.
An appeals court decision in 2022 made those with the
“functional equivalent” of life without parole sentences
eligible as well.
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