Man Gets Life Without Parole for Campus Shooting

A judge followed a jury’s recommendation and sentenced a man to life in prison without parole for a deadly shooting at a community college in Opelika.

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Thomas Franklin May III. But Judge Jacob Walker ruled Wednesday that May would spend the rest of his life in prison for opening fire at Southern Union Community College in 2011. His mother-in-law Brenda Watson Marshall was killed while in a van, his estranged wife was shot and their daughter was hit by flying glass.

Jurors convicted the 38-year-old May of capital murder and attempted murder in March and voted 10-2 for a sentence of life without parole.

Prosecutors argued in court papers that May’s former wife Bethany Mitchell opposes leniency.

 

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