; From Adolescent Angst To Shooting Up Schools", "Loukaitis jurors hear parents, see Pearl Jam video", "Loukaitis' mother says she told son of plan to kill herself", "Loukaitis Knew Shooting Wrong, Psychiatrist Says", "Prosecutor: Loukaitis Is Faking Attacks Defense Witnesses That Depression Behind Shootings", "Murder trial jurors hear Loukaitis' confession", "Moses Lake boy tells of killing three at school", "Hearing delayed for suspect in Moses Lake shooting deaths", "School Killings All Too Familiar Moses Lake Horror Parallels Plot Of Novel Found In Suspect's Room", "Kidnapping charges added in Moses Lake murder case", "Teen faces King Co. trial in Moses Lake slayings", "Barry Loukaitis, Moses Lake school shooter, breaks silence with apology", On the Other Foot: groundhogs, bullies, lawyers and children, Loukaitis gets two life terms plus 205 years, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frontier_Middle_School_shooting&oldid=1001971025, Middle school shootings in the United States, February 1996 events in the United States, Articles needing additional references from April 2017, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 22 January 2021, at 05:32. ", Prosecutors Donna Wise and John Knodell argued that Loukaitis had carefully planned the shooting,[11] getting ideas from the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy". His mother, Jo Ann Phillips, was a domineering woman who became increasingly distant and began speaking of suicide. Back to story Restart gallery. He withdrew, spending more time in his room, sleeping and watching videos and reading, she said. 1996) ... the court closed a juvenile declination hearing just before a psychiatric expert retained by Barry D. Loukaitis was about to express opinions prepared in anticipation of that proceeding. Loukaitis, now a 34-years-old, is serving two I'm not bitter at him. MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Another day in court lies ahead for convicted school shooter Barry Loukaitis, who, thanks to a US Supreme Court decision, is … "Barry was really upset that I was upset all the time," she said. He withdrew, spending more time in his room, sleeping and watching videos and reading, she said. He also worked as a teacher’s aide at Clallam Bay Corrections Center before … This became even more notorious when in 1996, shooter Barry Loukaitis, aged all of 14 years, barged into his classroom wearing a black trench coat and opened fire on his classmates with a pistol and a rifle – killing three in total, a teacher and two fellow students. … If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. School shootings were still a relatively unheard of when 14-year-old Barry Loukaitis walked into Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake in 1996 dressed as a wild west gunslinger and armed with several guns and 89 rounds of ammunition. Barry Loukaitis had told a friend, ... “Now, I’d be the first to say we have too many lawyers in this country and that they’re like sharks swimming around in a barrel,” Grossman admits. "I don't know. MOSES LAKE, Wash. --When Barry Loukaitis carried two pistols and a rifle into a middle school classroom here 10 years ago, he was packing enough ammunition to kill everyone in the room.Loukaitis first killed Manuel Vela, 14, a classmate who had reportedly made fun of him. At least that's what lawyers for a Seattle-area teenager now on trial for murder argue. There was an error processing your request. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that people convicted of murder they committed under 18 years of age could not receive automatic life terms without parole and in 2016 the court ruled that the policy also apply retroactively. [14][15] He was sentenced to serve two life sentences and an additional 205 years without the possibility of parole. While Lane feels sorry for Loukaitis, he also feels for his victims. They need to love their kids. They say the 1992 video for Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," in part, inspired 14-year-old Barry Loukaitis to act out like the troubled youth of the song. Lane then grabbed the weapon from Loukaitis and wrestled him to the ground, later assisting in the evacuation of students. Loukaitis… The gunman, 14-year-old Barry Dale Loukaitis (/luːˈkaɪtɪs/; born February 26, 1981), killed his algebra teacher and two students, and held his classmates hostage before a gym coach subdued Loukaitis. I never talked to Barry since it happened," Lane said as he remembered that day. Loukaitis is serving a life sentence at Clallam Bay Correction Center near Port Angeles, convicted of two counts of aggravated first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, second-degree assault and 16 counts of kidnapping. Barry Loukaitis was 14 years old in 1996 when he opened fire on his math class. The Frontier Middle School shooting was a school shooting that occurred on February 2, 1996, at Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake, Washington, United States. He sees it as teenage immaturity. Jon may never know what drove Barry Loukaitis to act on his plot, but he has an idea. MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Barry Loukaitis was back in a Grant County court on Friday for a hearing to set a sentencing date. The Frontier Middle School shooting was a school shooting that occurred on February 2, 1996, at Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake, Washington, United States. The thing is, that in Barry Loukaitis’ case, the case should have remained in juvenile court, to begin with. Interesting also how Barry Loukaitis deeply regrets what he did now. [8] On July 2, three members of the Spokane Court of Appeals convinced Judge Evan Sperline to allow court-appointed psychiatrist Joan Petrich to present a testimony based on Loukaitis' mental health. Loukaitis walked from his house to his school, where he had entered his algebra classroom during fifth period. "He said he was going to take me hostage and take me out of the classroom and put the gun in my mouth," Lane recalled. Maybe this mindset is just a phase, a radical and dangerous phase, but a phase nonetheless He was armed with a .30–30 caliber hunting rifle and two handguns (.357 caliber revolver and .25 caliber semiautomatic pistol) that belonged to his father, and was carrying approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. Barry is now in his mid-30's, serving two life sentences and an additional 205 years in Clallam Bay Prison. Ask Question + 100. The Washington State Court of Appeals denied Loukaitis's request for a new trial in 1999. Lane volunteered as the hostage, and Loukaitis kept him at gunpoint with his rifle. Court records indicate Loukaitis earned his high school diploma in 1999 and earned college credits. Loukaitis had pleaded insanity on all charges against him,[10] and claimed that "mood swings" were the cause of his violent actions. I didn't hold it in really, and that was the right thing to do.". Writing dark poems and watching dark movies  and violent videos and so on. They need to be involved in their lives. “Now, don’t get me wrong. In June 1996, the Spokane Court of Appeals were to come to a decision whether 15-year-old Barry Loukaitis should be tried as an adult or juvenile. Judge Michael Price decided Tuesday that Caleb Sharpe will be charged as an adult. The Frontier Middle School shooting was a school shooting that occurred on February 2, 1996, at Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake, Washington, United States.The gunman, 14-year-old Barry Dale Loukaitis (/ l uː ˈ k aɪ t ɪ s /; born February 26, 1981), killed his algebra teacher and two students, and held his classmates hostage before a gym coach subdued him. He opened fire at students, killing two, Arnold Fritz and Manuel Vela, Jr., both fourteen. Since his incarceration, Loukaitis has achieved his high school diploma and worked as a teacher's aide in inmate education programs at Clallam Bay Corrections Center. Long before 17 people were killed in Parkland, Florida, before deadly shootings on the campuses of Sandy Hook and even before Columbine, 14-year-old Barry Loukaitis … On September 24, 1997, Loukaitis was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree attempted murder, and 16 counts of aggravated kidnapping. Loukaitis had pleaded insanityon all charges against him, and claimed that "mood swing… He felt he was superior to other people, and then those feelings were later replaced by hate, disdain, and not measuring up. Kids go through a lot of difficult times and its not easy.". They say the 1992 video for Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," in part, inspired 14-year-old Barry Loukaitis to act out like the troubled youth of the song. I'm not mad at Barry. "Barry was really upset that I was upset all the time," she said. He was armed with a .30–30 caliber … The family members of slain students Manuel Vela and Arnie Fritz, and teacher Leona Caires, along with student Natalie Hintz, who survived … Now 16, Loukaitis is being tried as an adult. Loukaitis, now a 34-years-old, is serving two [2] Loukaitis' parents separated in 1995, after his mother discovered her husband was having an affair. [3] Barry talked his mother out of doing so, by having her write down her feelings.[2]. More than a dozen victims and survivors have requested to speak during the hearing. Receive breaking news emails from KHQ Local News, Daily weather forecasts from the KHQ Weather Authority. Judge Pro Tem Michael Cooper agreed with the state’s recommendation and re-sentenced the now 36-year-old Loukaitis to 189 years in prison. He killed his teacher, Leona Caires, and two students, Manuel Vela and Arnold Fritz. Loukaitis, 14, then holds the class hostage at gunpoint before he is subdued by gym teacher Jonathan Lane. He thought he was avenging something. A psychiatrist testified Tuesday that Barry Loukaitis "knew what he was doing was wrong" but proceeded with a deadly classroom attack in Moses Lake anyway. He planned to use one hostage so he could safely exit the school. Judge Michael Price decided Tuesday that Caleb Sharpe will be charged as an adult. Chance of snow 30%. Loukaitis kept his head bowed and stared at the defense table, as he had done throughout much of the trial. Barry’s father, Terry Loukaitis, adamantly believes his son “can still have a part of his life left” if he serves a 30-year sentence that sets him free at the age of 40 or 45. Winds light and variable.. Cloudy skies with a few snow showers later at night. I’m not opposed to punitive sentencing for criminals. MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Another day in court lies ahead for convicted school shooter Barry Loukaitis, who, thanks to a US Supreme Court decision, is about to … "[1] Teacher and coach Jon Lane entered the classroom upon hearing the gunshots to find Loukaitis holding his classmates hostage. So far, he has served more than 20 years. I think pretty soon that became his reality. On the day of the shooting, Barry was dressed as a wild west-style gunslinger. This has been widely misunderstood because MTV had strong anti-violence imagery rules. Loukaitis, 16 when his trial ends, is tried as an adult, convicted of murder and kidnapping, and sentenced to two life terms plus 205 years, with no chance of parole. On July 2, three members of the Spokane Court of Appeals convinced Judge Evan Sperline to allow court-appointed psychiatrist Joan Petrich to present a testimony based on Loukaitis' mental health. Originally published April 14, 2017 at 4:17 pm Updated April 14, 2017 at 6:50 pm . 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