2003 Rocori High School shooting

Shooting

McLaughlin (born July 19, 1988) arrived at Rocori High School with a loaded Colt .22 caliber handgun with the intention of killing Bartell who, McLaughlin claimed, bullied him over his acne. McLaughlin met Bartell and Rollins as they were exiting the school locker room. He shot at Bartell, hitting him in the chest. McLaughlin fired a second shot at Bartell, which missed and hit Rollins in the neck, killing him instantly. Bartell attempted to flee the scene, but he was followed by McLaughlin, who fired another shot at Bartell, hitting him in the forehead. Gym coach Mark Johnson then confronted McLaughlin, who initially brandished the gun at Johnson, but then emptied the bullets from the gun and dropped it. Johnson secured the gun and took McLaughlin to the school office.

Bartell was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital, where he was treated for head injury and brain trauma. Bartell died 16 days later, on October 11, 2003.

Legal proceedings

The trial began on July 5, 2005. The defense argued that McLaughlin did not plan to kill anyone and that the teen had only intended to scare Bartell. The prosecution argued that the deaths were premeditated, as McLaughlin had stated to police that he had planned the shooting "several days in advance". Six mental health experts were brought in to testify in court. Three of the experts diagnosed McLaughlin with schizophrenia while the other three diagnosed him with major depression in remission and an "emerging personality disorder".

McLaughlin was found guilty of first and second-degree murder.

In August 2005, he was sentenced with two consecutive prison sentences. McLaughlin was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder and 12 years in prison for second-degree murder. Prior to the sentences, McLaughlin's attorneys attempted to have him declared insane at the time of the shootings, which would have resulted with McLaughlin serving his sentence at a mental hospital rather than a correctional facility. The Judge ruled that McLaughlin was sane at the time of the killings based on McLaughlin's writings and videotaped confession, where he detailed his planning of the crime. McLaughlin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,000 to the Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board.

Jason McLaughlin is currently 37 years-old and was incarcerated at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater, and is currently at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Oak Park Heights. He will not be eligible for parole until 2038, when he will be 50-years-old.

Wrongful death lawsuit

In September 2006, the families of victims Aaron Rollins and Seth Bartell filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the McLaughlins, the Rocori school district, and former Rocori High School Principal Doug Standke. The families alleged that the school district had prior knowledge of the shootings about a week before their occurrence and that they could have prevented its occurrence. The lawsuit was initially dismissed, but later settled out of court for $200,000.

References

References

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14. Kapoor, Reena. (March 2008). "Adolescents and the Insanity Defense". J Am Acad Psychiatry Law.
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18. (July 26, 2005). "Teen Killer Ruled Sane". CBS News.
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20. "Juvenile Sentenced to Life for Shooting Classmates". Fox News.
21. (Aug 31, 2005). "Jason McLaughlin sentenced to life in Rocori killings". Kare 11.
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23. Edwards, Eve. (April 21, 2021). "Who Are Oak Park Heights' Famous Prison Inmates? Derek Chauvin Transferred To Facility". HITC.com.
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25. (October 4, 2006). "Attorney for Rocori school district calls allegations 'baseless'". MPR.
26. (January 13, 2008). "Minn. Judge: Insurer Not Required to Cover Shooter". Insurance Journal.
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28. "LAWSUIT SETTLED IN SCHOOL SHOOTING PARENTS OF TWO VICTIMS WOULD SPLIT $200,000". St. Paul Pioneer Press.