I have several different sentiments on the matter. The kid that robbed him at gun point is a different breed, you have to apply the "there are no rules" moniker what ever happens to him, happens, obviously he is built for the streets, prison, death or both, he understands the life he chose. Drug dealers, get robbed everyday, it is the life they chose. The kids that were just there you never know the circumstances that put them into that situation.
For the kids that were tagging along 8 years and being tried as an adult seems extreme. There are people that have been convicted of murder that don't get 8 years.
This is the best thing that could happened to both parties, no one died, The illegal pharmacist, can go find a new profesion more suitable, Miles, if he was involved, can go think about what he did for 6 months, understanding that actions have consequences and hopefully he will come out with a new focus.
You give a 17 or 18 year old kid that is a borderline case, 8 years, when they come out, what they thought was life, has past them by and so has the vision of who they wanted to become, you remove hope on a 25 26 year old that is system hardened, that is not someone a functional society wants running around, mines well keep him in there until he is 40 or do him a favor and execute him.