Graphic content warning. The video listed above shows surveillance video of the mass shooting. Although it doesn’t show anyone being injured, the audio of the shooting and screams can be heard.
Monday was the start of the sentencing hearing for Nathaniel Jouett. In October 2018, Jouett pleaded guilty to the August 2017 mass shooting at the Clovis Public Library. To make their case for a 96 year sentence, the State showed several pieces of graphic video evidence during the hearing.
That viedo was surveillance video of the shooting from the Clovis Library and video from Jouett’s cell phone of him talking moments before the shooting happened.
Those chilling videos were seen for the first time in court. It shows Jouett walking into the Library with a black bag. Moments later, he walks into the main area of the library and starts shooting. In the mass shooting, he killed two women and injured several others.
“He tried to murder me,” said one victim during court hearings. “He shot me three times, in three separate locations.”
Cell phone video obtained by investigators was also shown in court and shows what Jouett was thinking moments before the shooting.
“I’ve been thinking about shooting and killing people for awhile now,” said Jouett in the cell phone video. “I’m not doing this for attention or anything like that. I’m doing this, I have some mental stuff going on. I just think life sucks.”
Dozens of emotional survivors spoke at the hearing reading victim impact statements to the judge who will decide Jouett’s prison sentence.
“Anywhere I go, I think if someone walked in right now and started shooting, where would we go?” said one vicitim who was shot several times.
“A part of me shut down to cope. And I don’t think that part ever came back,” said another victim.
“I believe without a doubt Nathaniel should be held accountable for his actions and given no leniancy,” said another tearful victim.
Although Jouett was a minor when the shooting happened, the state is requesting he be sentenced as an adult and serve 96 years. The State also brought up the fact Jouett was suspened the Friday befor the Monday shooting. Investigators said Jouett started the fight but Jouett said in his cell phone video he was bullied.
The sentencing is expected to happen later this week.
