[He] admitted Wednesday to intentionally shooting and trying to kill three teenage boys in a seemingly unprovoked attack that left one of the boys dead.What could possibly have motivated him to do something like this? In the report there was something about an argument or some jealousy or something. But what kind of rage is that, which is sustained long enough to decide to do it, to get the gun, to travel to the site of the incident and still shoot three people?“I shot and killed one person and I shot and seriously injured two others, and I don’t know why,” Olivares-Coster said in District Court, after entering guilty pleas on one deliberate homicide charge and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide.
As soon as transportation can be arranged, Olivares-Coster will be taken to the state mental hospital in Warm Springs for a two-month evaluation. Gallagher said he found out two days prior to the Wednesday hearing that the defense could argue that their client is guilty but mentally ill.
According to his plea agreement, Olivares-Coster will be allowed to present evidence and testimony during his sentencing that he was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the shooting that made him unable to know he was committing a crime or to be law abiding.
I find it difficult to understand how a young man could do something like this and still be considered of sound mind. To me the two are mutually exclusive. That doesn't mean I necessarily think he should be released or that he should receive a short sentence. He may be too unstable and dangerous for release.
An interesting aspect of this case was the investigation into where the gun came from and the eventual prosecution of the man who supplied it.
There's the gun culture for you. An underage person wanted a gun for home protection, sure thing. What could be more American than that?A Helena man who has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of transferring a handgun to a juvenile for buying the .45-caliber pistol used in the shooting will be sentenced Monday. Jared T. Cox, 21, said Olivares-Coster gave him money to buy the gun and ammunition in May.
Court documents say Olivares-Coster told Cox he wanted the pistol for “home protection.” Cox faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"There's the gun culture for you. An underage person wanted a gun for home protection, sure thing."
ReplyDeleteBesides your expected and tired ad hominien attack, this was clearly just a ruse on Cox in order to get the gun.