los angeles — A judge on Tuesday agreed to retry the gunman involved in the 2001 San Diego high school shooting, potentially allowing him to be released after 23 years in prison.
Charles Williams, who was 15 at the time, pleaded guilty to killing two students and wounding 13 others after firing his father’s gun at Santana High School on March 5, 2001. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
The judge’s decision Tuesday means Williams’ case will be sent to juvenile court and will result in his immediate release from prison without supervision or parole evaluation, according to San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan’s office.
The office said that the prosecution would appeal the ruling before the Court of Appeal to try to stop his release.
“As prosecutors, it is our duty to ensure justice for victims and protect public safety, and the defendant’s callous actions in this case still warrant a sentence of 50 years to life in prison,” Stephan said. “At some point, our laws must balance the rights of the accused with 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 Brian Zukor and 17-year-old Randy Gordon. 11 students and two employees were injured
Now 39, he is currently being held at the California Institute for Men in Chino and becomes eligible for parole in September 2024.
He was denied parole after he was deemed an “unreasonable risk to public safety” by the state board, San Diego Union-Tribune. I mentioned. The board also said it was unclear whether Williams understood what prompted the shooting.
Prosecutors say Williams’ case has been transferred to juvenile court for a hearing. Due to his age at the time of his shooting, his conviction will be reclassified as “true findings” of juvenile, after he is released from prison and possibly placed on probation as a juvenile, prosecutors said.
Williams was able to petition for re-sentencing because of a 2011 law that allows judges to give juvenile offenders with life without parole sentences the opportunity to re-sentence them. An appeals court decision in 2022 made those with “functional equivalent” life without parole provisions also eligible.