Brandon McInerney gets 21 years for killing gay classmate

A judge has sentenced 17-year-old Brandon McInerney to 21 years in jail for killing a gay classmate three years ago, Reuters reported.

McInerney, then 14, shot Larry King, 15, in the back of the head in the computer lab at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, Calif., in front of other students and their English teacher, CNN reported.

According to CNN:

Friends said King, an eighth-grader who lived in a group home called Casa Pacifica, was proud of being openly gay. He liked wearing jewelry and makeup to school and he often wore high-heeled boots with the school uniform.

Students said King had a widely-known crush on McInerney, and McInerney was harassed because of it, CNN reported.

McInerney was tried as an adult, but his trial ended in a hung jury in September, Reuters reported. Last month, he agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and use of a gun.

King’s family said they could not forgive his killer, The Associated Press reported.

King's father, Greg King, read a statement in court Monday on behalf of King’s mother, the AP reported. " ‘You took upon yourself to be a bully and to hate a smaller kid, wanting to be the big man on campus,’ ” he said. " ‘You have left a big hole in my heart where Larry was and it can never be filled.’ ”

More from GlobalPost: Tyler Clementi suicide: Parents start foundation