Brazill Guilty of Second-Degree Murder

May 16 -- A Florida jury convicted a 14-year-old boy of second-degree murder today for shooting his teacher in the head after being suspended for throwing a water balloon.

If the jurors had convicted Nathaniel Brazill of first-degree murder, as prosecutors wanted, he would have faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole.

The second-degree murder conviction carries a prison sentence of 25 years to life, but defense lawyers maintain the judge is free to impose any penalty from "zero to life."

Sentencing will be held on June 29, and will most likely involve testimony from victim Barry Grunow's family.

Brazill, who was tried as an adult, remained calm but looked stunned as the verdict was read in the West Palm Beach, Fla., courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Richard Wennet.

His mother, Polly Powell, and other family members cried softly, while Grunow's family sat quietly.

Tears Follow Stunned Silence

Defense attorney Robert Udell said that after they left the courtroom, the teen said to him simply, "Not too bad," referring to the jury's verdict.

The boy then broke down in tears, Udell told reporters.

"We think they were tears of remorse and relief. Those who think he's a cold-blooded killer will say it's tears because he's going to jail," Udell said.

"Everybody's going to believe what they want on this case, regardless of this verdict."

Lead prosecutor Marc Shiner expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

"We in our heart knew the jury would do the right thing," he said outside the courtroom.

Teen Claimed He Only Meant to Scare the Teacher

Brazill had admitted killing Grunow, 35, but testified during the trial that it was an accident. He insisted he had only meant to scare Grunow, a popular English teacher at Lake Worth Middle School.

Grunow was shot in the head on the last day of school last year. Prosecutors said Brazill, then 13, was angry because he had been suspended that day for throwing a water balloon.