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Mark Potter

CNN Correspondent Mark Potter was at the West Palm Beach, Florida, courthouse when 14-year-old Nathaniel Brazill was convicted of second degree murder for the shooting death of his teacher.

Q: How does this differ from the case of another 14-year-old Florida boy, Lionel Tate?

POTTER: The biggest difference is in the sentence. Lionel Tate was convicted of first-degree murder for the beating death of a playmate and Nathaniel Brazill was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his teacher. That will mean a difference in the sentencing. Tate got life without parole and Brazill could get less than that. The prosecution said he faces anywhere from 22 years to life in prison.

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The other difference is that while both defendants claimed that the killings they were involved in were accidental, the crime Brazill was convicted of involved a handgun. Tate claimed he was imitating his pro-wrestling heroes when a young girl was killed.

Q: What did jurors say about the Brazill verdict?

POTTER: The jurors that spoke to reporters all said that this was a very difficult decision. One juror said it was the most difficult thing she has ever had to do in her life. It was very tough for them, dealing with a 14-year-old boy, knowing the potential sentence and knowing the seriousness of the charge. And also dealing with the fact that a young man's life was at stake and while another life had already been lost.

Q: Where will Brazill serve his time?

POTTER: That's still to be determined. If we look to the Lionel Tate case for guidance, it's possible that Brazill could serve his time, at least until he is an adult, in a juvenile facility. That is not a summer camp. There are very serious maximum security facilities for juveniles. Tate is being held in one in Okeechobee, Florida. And while we do not know specifically what will happen to Nathaniel, it is very likely that could happen since it was ordered in Lionel's case by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Q: When will Brazill be considered an adult?

POTTER: I believe adult is 21 years old. The Department of Juvenile Justice officials told us in the Tate case that it is possible that he could stay at the facility where he is now -- if he serves all that time -- until he is 21-years-old. But I remind you that efforts are under way right now by Tate's attorneys to get clemency from Gov. Bush and that hearing could held at the middle of next month.

Q: What was the reaction at Brazill's school?

POTTER: Right after the verdict was announced, school officials read the verdict to the students. The principal, Bob Hatcher, said there was a lot of emotion from the students. Some of them, he said, were numb. A lot of them asked questions about what would happen next to their former classmate. Hatcher said that extra counselors were standing by. And he said it was too bad that at a time when students should be excited about the end of the school year that they have to deal with something like this.