Everett
A gang member who admitted his involvement in a fatal drive-by shooting received a reduced prison term after pleading guilty to a lesser charge and providing testimony against the gunman, who was later convicted in the killing of a teenager waiting for a school bus in south Everett.
During a hearing in Snohomish County Superior Court on Thursday, a 24-year-old man was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison, according to court documents. Prosecutors identified him as an accomplice in the September 2023 shooting death of a 15-year-old.
The victim was struck by gunfire along Hardeson Road on the second day of the school year while waiting to board a bus.
Authorities arrested the defendant the following day, and he began cooperating with investigators almost immediately, directing them toward the person who pulled the trigger. Testimony during the subsequent monthlong murder trial, which resulted in a guilty verdict on Oct. 1, detailed this cooperation.
The defendant originally faced charges of first-degree murder and possession of a stolen vehicle, but those counts were reduced in January 2025 as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for the reduced charges, he agreed to testify against the gunman.
Appearing in court on Sept. 24, he stated that comments from his mother motivated him to accept responsibility for his role in the incident.
He compared his culpability to that of the gunman, stating, "The person thats cutting the cows head off and the person thats holding the cows leg, they have the same fault."
Prosecutors wrote in a memorandum submitted before Thursday's hearing that the plea deal and sentencing recommendation were reached following extensive negotiations. Court documents indicate the standard sentencing range for the defendant was 10 to 18 years.
Prosecutors said the arrangement "takes into account the defendants actions through the lens of accomplice liability while still holding the defendant accountable for his actions and involvement in this case." They added that it also reflects the defendant's acceptance of responsibility for his actions and appropriately characterizes his conduct.
In a letter submitted to the court prior to sentencing, the defendant apologized to the victim's family for his part in the death, describing himself as ignorant and misguided.
"I realize the irreversible damage I caused and I genuinely regret my involvement," he wrote. "I am truly sorry for being a part of such a horrible act of violence."
Investigators stated the shooting was the culmination of an ongoing conflict between rival Sureno gangs, Vatos Locos Surenos and Sur Town Rascals.
The violence escalated in March 2023 when the defendant, a member of Vatos Locos Surenos, was shot in the leg by a person believed to be affiliated with Sur Town Rascals.
The conflict continued through the summer, and prosecutors said the 15-year-old allegedly exchanged gunfire with a member of Vatos Locos Surenos two days before he was killed.
The defendant testified that his gang was desperate after members had been targeted and planned to kill the teen.
Prosecutors and court testimony established that the defendant and the gunman stole a Kia Soul that was later used in the shooting. The defendant told the court that when it came time to commit the crime, he made excuses to go home.
"I knew I wasnt going to come back," he testified on Sept. 24. "I didnt want to go through with the (plan)."
State attorneys argued that the defendant executed the attack independently, catching the victim by surprise at a transit shelter on the morning of Sept. 8, 2023. After deliberation, a jury returned a verdict of guilty on a charge of first-degree murder involving a deadly weapon. The individual was also convicted on two separate counts of first-degree assault, stemming from attacks on two other teenagers present at the stop, as well as a count for possessing a stolen automobile.
Online court filings indicate that the sentencing hearing is set for January 2027.