The man convicted of killing three students and injuring five others at Heath High School in 1997 is up for parole.
Michael Carneal, 39, was a 14-years-old student when he opened fire at the high school in West Paducah on the morning of December 1, 1997. He pled guilty and received a life sentence in 1998. In Kentucky, though, a person sentenced to life in prison is eligible for parole after serving 25 years.
Carneal shot and killed freshmen Nicole Hadley, sophomore Kayce Steger and senior Jessica James. One of the five students injured in the shooting, Missy Jenkins Smith, who was 15 at the time, was paralyzed from the chest down.
Carneal’s parole hearing is Monday.
James Mills, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for McCracken County, told KFVS there are two parts to the hearing, with the first part of the process allowing victims to give testimony. The second part of the hearing consists of Carneal speaking to the parole board.
The board will then take the information under advisement and make a decision about Carneal’s parole at a future date.
The parole hearings are open to the public and will be conducted over Zoom.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
