DeSoto Parish DA Richard Z. Johnson has announced that he will seek the death penalty for Brian Douglas Horn, who has been accused in the murder of 12 year old Justin Bloxom. When the Grand Jury convenes, Johnson will seek an indictment for First Degree Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping. As I understand it, the kidnapping will qualify it as First Degree Murder.Louisiana First Degree Murder
LA R.S. 14:30
A. First degree murder is the killing of a human being:
(1) When the offender has specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm and is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of aggravated kidnapping, second degree kidnapping, aggravated escape, aggravated arson, aggravated rape, forcible rape, aggravated burglary, armed robbery, drive-by shooting, first degree robbery, simple robbery, or terrorism.
(2) When the offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm upon a fireman, peace officer, or civilian employee of the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory or any other forensic laboratory engaged in the performance of his lawful duties, or when the specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm is directly related to the victim's status as a fireman, peace officer, or civilian employee.
(3) When the offender has a specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm upon more than one person.
(4) When the offender has specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm and has offered, has been offered, has given, or has received anything of value for the killing.
(5) When the offender has the specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm upon a victim who is under the age of twelve or sixty-five years of age or older.
(6) When the offender has the specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm while engaged in the distribution, exchange, sale, or purchase, or any attempt thereof, of a controlled dangerous substance listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.
(7) When the offender has specific intent to kill and is engaged in the activities prohibited by R.S. 14:107.1(C)(1).
B. For the purposes of Paragraph A(2) of this Section, the term "peace officer" means any peace officer, as defined in R.S. 40:2402, and includes any constable, marshal, deputy marshal, sheriff, deputy sheriff, local or state policeman, commissioned wildlife enforcement agent, federal law enforcement officer, jail or prison guard, parole officer, probation officer, judge, attorney general, assistant attorney general, attorney general's investigator, district attorney, assistant district attorney, or district attorney's investigator.
C. Whoever commits the crime of first degree murder shall be punished by death or life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence in accordance with the determination of the jury.
Horn Family receiving death threats
Brian Horn's family has received death threats since his arrest. In an effort to let the public know that Horn's family is as sickened as anyone else over the murder, Horn's brother Kevin released the following statement:
"I want to first start by saying on behalf of myself and my family we are deeply sorry for Justin Bloxom's death.
This has been the hardest thing my family and I have had to deal with, but I know it in no way compares to the pain that the Bloxom family is feeling. I'm not asking for sympathy from anyone. I just want the Bloxom family to realize my family and I are trying to do the right thing.
My family and I have deepest sorrow for Justin and his loved ones.
I, Kevin Horn, brought my brother to DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Substation immediately after finding out that Brian was the prime suspect in this heinous crime. Brian will not find any support from us because we do not condone a murderer.
My family and I have been thrown into this nightmare and do not want to believe that this is true, but unfortunately we have to deal with the facts that are in front of us.
Please do not judge our family as we are the ones that brought Brian in and are in no way trying to protect him from justice. He chose his life and now he must pay for the crime he committed."
Sincerely:
Kevin Horn
The family of the accused murderer (via the brothers apology) have expressed and conveyed sufficient respect and apology to the family of the victim. It is too bad that they are receiving death threats as they apparently share no blame in this case. Anyone's brother or sister could commit a crime - that doesn't mean it is reasonable for a family member to have to share retribution of any kind. The people doing this should be sought out and prosecuted.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's quite a shame that this family has been threatened.
ReplyDeleteAs much as we try to understand the sorrow of Justin's family...how horrible would it be for a son, a brother, etc. to have gone so wrong?
I appreciate the tone of Kevin Horn's statement. Noting that "I'm not asking for sympathy from anyone."
Such a damned shame! The whole mess...
I agree. I think that it did show respect to the family. People who would threaten this family should examine their own criminal tendencies.
ReplyDeleteWe just got home from Pennsylvania. While we were there we visited the Amish area and learned about the Amish. One story that was laid in front of me on the way up and once I was up there was the story of the 5 little Amish girl killed in a school house. It just so happened while we were there Lifetime aired a movie which a think is now playing on their cycle at least once a day. It was called Amish Grace and told about how they forgave the man who shot the girls and helped the widow and family with money. They even showed up at his funeral to support her. It was all about forgiveness. I only hope I could do the same if such a tragedy happened to me. I could only do it with God's help though. If you get a chance watch the movie. My prayers go out to all involved in this tragedy. Jim, you have done a good job covering this as I have followed this while I was on the road.
ReplyDeleteOur actions are our own. We have no one to blame for them but ourselves. God loves us ALL! In His eyes, one sin is no greater than the other. We, being imperfect fail to understand this concept. It is sad that we do not love one another enough to not hurt each another. Although there are 10 commandments, the bible says that the greatest commandments are these: 1) Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind and soul. 2) Love thy neighbor as thy would thy self. If we could just follow these 2 simple requests.....wow what an awesome place this would be! When a child is taken so brutally, as this one was, we want to blame and pass judgement so quickly but if we really think about what has been done, who can we really blame? Ourselves for not being more attentive to what our children are doing? The person responsible for committing the crime? The system for not doing a better job monitoring the person who committed this crime? Who? Our society has changed so much in the last 20 or so years and for the worst. This senseless act of violence could have been avoided if we had ALL lived by the word of God. This young man will now sit with God in His kingdom. Richard Johnson vows to seek the death penalty in this case but is that really going to bring this young man back? No! The greatest lesson to be learned from this tragedy is forgivness!
ReplyDeleteBrian Horn was a convicted sex offender who attempted to rape and murder a young girl before he killed Justin Bloxom. After trying to rape and murder a 13 year old girl Brian Horn then moved back to Stonewall where his family lived and he married a woman with a young daughter. Yet Horn's family did nothing even though their son amd brother the child killer was living with a young girl. Horn told members of his family that a "cab would be a perfect way to abduct children" - and the family did nothing when he showed up with his very own cab. The family was fully aware that Brian was dangerous to children yet they did nothing. The family turned a blind eye to Brian's actions. The Horn family knew more than anyone that he was capable of killing children. Do not sympathize for these people.
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