A parole hearing began Monday morning for 39-year old Michael Carneal, who killed three students and injured five others in a shooting at Heath High School near Paducah in 1997.
Nicole Hadley, Jessica James and Kayce Steger all died from gunshot wounds sustained when Carneal opened fire on a gathering of students at the beginning of the school day on December 1, 1997.
The proceedings Monday began with testimony from victims and their survivors including the family of Nichole Hadley, with her mother Gwen Hadley saying Carneal served them with a life sentence that they can never get parole from in 1997, so he should serve the same sentence.
Survivor Hollan Holm says he struggles with anxiety still to this day, and that shooting changed who he would become as an adult—and he believes Carneal was a child then, and should have a chance show the world that he is a changed man.
Missy Jenkins Smith has lived her life in a wheel chair since being shot at Heath High School, and says that Carneal has never shown remorse or responsibility for his actions, instead blaming mental illness that Smith believes he cannot be trusted to manage himself.
Carneal is now looking for parole 25 years after the crime. He received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years following conviction, which was the maximum sentence at that time due to his juvenile status. The Commonwealth is asking that Carneal be treated as an adult who made adult decisions and continue to serve a life sentence
Proceedings are expected to continue into Tuesday.