Brazill, who is charged as an adult, could be sentenced to life in prison without parole if convicted of first-degree murder in the death of teacher Barry Grunow. The jury may also consider lesser charges, including second-degree murder and manslaughter. The defense concedes Brazill shot Grunow but contends it was an accident. Earlier Tuesday, Brazill's parents said they hoped the jury would consider their son's age. It's just not fair.
Every child deserves a second chance.
In closing arguments Monday, prosecutor Marc Shiner said Brazill, then 13, was a troubled teen-ager who intentionally shot his popular English teacher because he was angry about being suspended on the last day of school for throwing a water balloon. Shiner said Brazill deliberately killed Grunow when the teacher refused to let the him talk to two classmates. Brazill admitted on the stand that he got a gun from home, returned to school with the weapon in his pocket, took it out and pulled the slide, putting a bullet in the chamber. He shot Grunow once in the doorway of the teacher's Lake Worth Middle School classroom last May 26, about two hours after being sent home by a school counselor. Defense attorney Robert Udell argued in his closing that Brazill was inexperienced in using handguns and thought the gun's safety was on.