Memon pleads guilty to Discovery Middle school shooting

Hammad Memon. (RECORD PHOTO)

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — “I plead guilty your honor” were the words out of accused Discovery Middle shooter Hammad Memon’s mouth on May 28.

The 17-year-old suspect in the 2010 murder of Todd Brown and defense attorney Bruce Gardner reached a plea deal with Assistant District Attorney Tim Gann over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Memon, who was supposed to go on trial June 17, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with the eligibility of parole after 15 years.

“We began working out the details at the beginning of the weekend up until 1:00 p.m. today,” Gann said. “It’s been a work in progress.”

Gann added that Memon’s attempt to flee the country really had no bearing on the plea deal.

“Really, what we are looking at is a 17-year-old kid who was just trying to follow what his parents told him to do,” he said. “The fact that they fled was evidence of guilt.”

Memon’s parents, Iqbal and Safia, are awaiting trial and will now go forward now that the 17-year-old’s case is over.

Gardner said plenty of factors may have played into his client’s actions on Feb. 5, 2010.

“Why I think he did it was a combination of a lot of factors,” he said. “Going through this case, I tried to put myself as an American in a Pakistani classroom.”

Gardner added that his client will most likely receive psychological treatment in jail and is open to receiving it.

“I think he will take advantage of whatever opportunity they will give him,” he said. “They had a strong case against us but I thought it was a pretty decent resolution.”