At Nudieland sentencing, victims wrestle with grief and the failed society that creates killers

“I believe this world and the systems we live under are the reason we are standing in this courtroom today. I believe this country breeds scarcity and scarcity breeds violence,” Connery-Harris said. “I do not believe prison can do much good for the longevity of the human mind and body. I do not believe punitive justice or the deterioration of another will bring me any closure.”

Burris, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was walking down the street with his cousin, Cyrell Boyd, also 17, when he approached Golden’s home. Golden declined to give Burris alcohol because he was clearly inebriated. The two teens directed sexual insults at people at the show, which was a haven for the queer community. Burris allegedly told Boyd they should come back and shoot up the place. Shortly after leaving, Burris did so.

On Monday, Burris sat in an orange jumpsuit with family members behind him. As he listened to the statements, he swiveled in his chair, looked at the ceiling and occasionally stretched and yawned. He also, for the first time, took public accountability for his actions.

Jennifer Dotson was one of their victims. Dotson, who uses they/them pronouns, was shot through the thigh and now suffers from exploding head syndrome, a disorder that causes them to hear screams and loud bangs when they near sleep.

Dotson recalled getting their pants back from the state after the pants had been inventoried as evidence. They saw bullet holes and blood stains. Like many others in the court, Dotson bemoaned the gun industry and gun violence in America, and wondered about the long line of familial and societal structures that failed Burris.