A 27-year-old man has received a life sentence without parole for the brutal murder of a 13-year-old boy during a road rage incident in Westminster, Colorado. Jeremy Webster fatally shot Vaughn Bigelow Jr. in 2018 after the boy’s mother, Meghan Bigelow, had pulled over for an emergency services vehicle.
Meghan Bigelow was driving her three sons to a dental appointment when the tragic incident occurred. Webster followed her, leading to a confrontation in a parking lot where he opened fire on the family, killing Vaughn and injuring Meghan and her two other children.
In the trial, Webster faced 12 charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, and assault. The judge sentenced him to life without parole for the first-degree murder charge and an additional 48 years for each of six other counts.
During the trial, the shooting was described by the prosecution as “intentional and deliberate.” In contrast, Webster’s defense lawyers argued that their client had been struggling with mental health issues since he was a child. Webster had entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity when his trial started on April 12.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Prince recounted the horrifying details during her closing argument, stating that Vaughn Bigelow Jr. had his hands up in fear when Webster placed the gun’s barrel against the child’s head . Then the killer pulled the trigger, ending Vaughn’s life.
Prince emphasized the calculated nature of the act, noting that Webster continued to pull the trigger until the gun was empty.
Meghan Bigelow testified about the events leading up to the shooting, explaining that she had attempted to change lanes due to the presence of an emergency vehicle behind her. This action provoked Webster, who yelled at her before following her to the parking lot and initiating the deadly confrontation.
Following the verdict, Meghan Bigelow expressed her relief that this chapter of their lives could be closed. However, she acknowledged the continuing pain of her family’s loss, saying, “There’s things that we have to go through still. Every day. The biggest one still is Bubba’s (Vaughn Bigelow Jr.) not here.”