Sept. 4 sentencing set for Memorial Middle School shooter

A final decision on the fate of Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White, 16, will be made during his Sept. 4 sentencing. White pleaded guilty this morning to two counts of assault and one count of armed criminal action in connection with the Oct. 9, 2006, incident in which he took an assault weapon into the school, fired it into the ceiling, then attempted to shoot Principal Steven Gilbreth. White was saved from a potential murder charge when the gun jammed.

With the guilty plea, White has a chance to get into a dual jurisdiction program:

His proposed plea agreement offers the possibility of being sentenced under the state’s dual-jurisdiction program or receiving a prison sentence that would be no more than 15 years.


To be considered for the dual-jurisdiction program, the youth must be younger than 17. White will reach that age in December.

The state’s Division of Youth Services will assess whether White qualifies for dual jurisdiction, a program that enables juveniles to receive education, vocational training and various forms of counseling, all of which would not be available in adult prison. If they are able to complete the program successfully, the court may choose to release them on probation. If not, the court may order the adult prison sentence imposed.