By Keith Coffman

DENVER (Reuters) – A Colorado man convicted in June of murdering a classmate during a 2019 school shooting that wounded eight others was sentenced on Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Douglas County District Court Judge Devon Erickson, age 20, sentenced him to another 1,282 years in prison for attempted murder and related charges.

Erickson is now the second suspect in the shooting rampage. His co-conspirator, Alec McKinney pleaded guilty last year https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colorado-shooting-idUSKCN24Q00D to murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and related charges.

Erickson was convicted for first-degree murder in the shooting death of Kendrick castillo (18), one of three students who intervened when Erickson burst into class with a handgun.

During Friday’s five-hour sentencing hearing, Judge Teresa Slade listened to statements from victims, including Castillo’s parents.

Maria Castillo, Castillo’s mother, fought back tears and told Judge Teresa Slade that she was unable to bear the pain of losing her child.

She told the judge, “Grant no mercy for this evil killer.”

A first-degree murder conviction in Colorado carries an automatic lifetime sentence that does not allow for parole.

Erickson was only 18 when the shootings occurred. Slade informed Erickson that her inability to show remorse during the proceedings led to the imposition of an additional year to his sentence.

She told Erickson, “I haven’t seen or heard that you have accepted responsibility for these.”

McKinney (transgender) testified against Erickson during his trial and was sentenced for life with 38 years behind bars.

McKinney could still be eligible for parole after 40 years of imprisonment, as he was a child at the time.