Lindhurst High School shooter files appeal of death sentence

(FOX40) - - A man who was founded guilty of killing three trainees and a teacher by method of a mass shooting at Lindhurst High School in 1992 is appealing his conviction.

On May 1, 1992, Eric Christopher Houston, 20, entered his former high school in Olivehurst while armed with a shotgun and a rifle. He shot and killed 4 people, injured numerous others with gunfire, and held practically 90 students hostage for about 8 hours before giving up.

According to official court records acquired by FOX40.com, Houston targeted Lindhurst High because among his previous teachers provided him a failing grade which he felt avoided him from finishing when he went to in 1989. In addition, he blamed the failing grade for his loss of employment and break up with his girlfriend. At trial, Houston also implicated this previous teacher of molesting him..

Houston's trial was moved from Yuba County to Napa where a jury founded guilty Houston of first-degree murder, tried murder, and a variety of other related charges. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection scheduled for 2022, however it was delayed because of appeals.

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The death sentence is legal in California, nevertheless, Governor Gavin Newsom put an official halt on capital penalty in June 2023. According to www.npr.org, no one in the state has actually been put to death in nearly 17 years, however, if the moratorium was raised, Houston would be due.

Houston is on death row at San Quentin State Prison and has actually appealed the court's choice a number of times. The Supreme Court upheld the sentencing on many of Houston's appeal claims, one will be further examined.

His newest appeal challenges the death sentence under a claim that it is terrible and uncommon penalty because of his mental status.

Records show that during Houston's hearing, UC Davis Medical School board-certified psychiatrist and previous teacher Charles Schaffer diagnosed Houston with major depression with psychotic features and bipolar disorder. He also kept in mind the probability of an undefined character disorder and PTSD; however, in Schaffer's viewpoint, Houston could understand the nature and quality of his acts and might identify right from incorrect.

Since of Yuba County staffing scarcities, Yuba County Board of Supervisors authorized a memorandum of understanding with the San Joaquin County District Attorney to help litigate the credibility of Houston's claims. On Oct. 27 Yuba County district attorney signed a memorandum of understanding to perform the litigation. Officials state the procedure might take in between two and three years before a judge chooses.

" Even if Houston is discovered to be ineligible for the death sentence, under present law, he will not be launched from prison," stated Yuba County District Attorney Clinton Curry. "His sentence would simply be transformed from death to life without possibility of parole.".