Juvenile male pleads guilty to manslaughter in shooting that killed 15-year-old girl
Authorities are investigating what they are calling a "serious situation" in Columbia Heights. Credit: KSTP/Jeff Ernewein
A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter on Wednesday for the shooting death in Columbia Heights that killed a 15-year-old girl in March.
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The boy, who was 16-years-old at the time of the incident, admitted to picking up a handgun and pulling the trigger while pointing the gun at the victim, according to a news release from the Anoka County Attorney’s Office. The boy did not check to see if the gun was loaded, and the ensuing gunshot killed the girl.
The Anoka County Attorney’s Office said the case would be deemed an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution (EJJ), meaning that the boy will receive a sentence in juvenile court along with an adult prison sentence. He will serve the prison sentence if he does not fulfill the juvenile sentence, which calls for him to serve time in a juvenile correctional facility.
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The final sentencing disposition will be made by pronation and court officials in the county of residence. A news release from Anoka County states that he will be transferred to Hennepin County, which will decide how long he will stay in the juvenile correctional facility and the probation conditions based on recommendations from Anoka County. He will not be required to serve a 57-month adult prison sentence if he meets the requirements of the Hennepin County juvenile disposition.