2:11 p.m. EDT July 7, 2004 - Nathaniel Brazill, the middle school student convicted of killing his English teacher with a .25-caliber handgun in 2000, fired his lawyer, saying he wants to represent himself.

Brazill, now 17, is imprisoned at the Indian River Correctional Institution, sentenced to 28 years for killing Lake Worth Middle School teacher Barry Grunow (pictured left).

Crusading Coral Gables attorney Jack Thompson had taken Brazill's case, hoping to help the teen reduce his sentence. Brazill fired him, explaining he wanted to serve as his own lawyer, Thompson said.

"He's a tough guy," Thompson said of Brazill. "I wish him well."

Thompson had discussed using violent video games' effect on Brazill as a possible defense. But the lawyer said Brazill and his mother were concerned about what details might emerge in court, and wanted him off the case, Thompson said.

Brazill's appeals have been denied, and the Florida Supreme Court refused to review his case. But a trial court judge could reduce his sentence if new information is presented or if it is shown that the teen's former defense attorney Robert Udell did not represent him well.

Udell said he cautioned Brazill against firing Thompson, which both attorneys agree was a bad decision.

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