Convicted school shooter Jesse Osborne, presently serving a life sentence without parole, has appealed for a sentence review, sparking speculation about his potential release.
Osborne was 14-years-old when he shot his father, as well as three students and a teacher at the Townville Elementary School in South Carolina.
Frank Eppes, Osborne’s counsel, argued that the trial judge didn’t adequately consider a psychological report, indicating Osborne’s violence was a consequence of past abuse and suggesting he might be rehabilitable. Eppes implored the court to provide Osborne, now 21, a chance for redemption. Osborne also expressed regret and apologized to the family of the child he murdered and everyone at the school on that fateful day. He pledged to strive for self-improvement while incarcerated.
However, at the Anderson County Courthouse hearing, strong objections to Osborne’s possible release were raised by a teacher, a parent of a wounded child, the father of a first grader who had a party that day, the superintendent, and the principal. Principal Denise Fredericks, having seen Osborne at the school armed, voiced hope for his potential reform but strongly advocated for his continued detention given the severity of his actions. The family of victim Jacob Hall, although silent in court, remained staunchly against Osborne’s release.
Osborne, who admitted guilt to all charges, is serving two life sentences. Before the school incident, he murdered his father. On the day of the shooting, Osborne crashed his truck into the school fence and targeted a first-grade class, killing Jacob Hall and injuring two other students and a teacher.
Osborne’s defense maintained his brain was still maturing during his teenage years. They produced a psychologist’s report contesting prosecution experts’ depiction of Osborne as a dangerous, unrepentant offender. Eppes proposed a revised sentence, including 30 years minimum for the murders, additional years for attempted murder charges, and lifetime GPS monitoring if released.
The judge requested a comprehensive report from the defense’s expert and granted prosecutors ten days to reply.