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Teenager who killed father, stepmother receives 25 years in prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The prosecutor called it a tough case.

A defense attorney said it was the most gut-wrenching of her career.

When it was done, the 16-year-old boy who killed his father and stepmother was told he will spend 25 years in prison.

Matthew Liewald admitted shooting and killing his father, Christian Liewald, and stepmother, Cassie Buckaloo, in their south Mecklenburg home in September of last year.

Matthew Liewald told police his father had abused him mentally and physically and he had decided to run away, but believed his father would not let him leave.

Prosecutor Bill Bunting described what looked like a classic ambush when Matthew Liewald waited for his father and stepmother to come home.

"He had two handguns loaded, multiple knives strapped to him and shotguns in case those didn't work," Bunting said.

Matthew Liewald pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder Thursday, and cried during part of the hearing in Charlotte.

He did not say anything except to answer the judge's questions, but friends later said there were no winners in the case.

"After hearing everything in that courtroom today, it seemed like he had nowhere to go," said Patrick Barwick, who knew Liewald from church.