Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man is scheduled to be sentenced today to serve 6 1/2 to 13 years in state prison for fatally shooting another man in September. Shawnde Washington, 25, pleaded guilty May 26 to second-degree manslaughter, admitting he recklessly caused the death of Justin Mills Sept. 14. Mills, 18, was standing in a crowd of people in...
Syracuse, NY - A Syracuse man is scheduled to be sentenced today to serve 6 1/2 to 13 years in state prison for fatally shooting another man in September.
Shawnde Washington, 25, pleaded guilty May 26 to second-degree manslaughter, admitting he recklessly caused the death of Justin Mills Sept. 14.
Mills, 18, was standing in a crowd of people in the 100 block of West Brighton Avenue when he was struck by a single shot from a .22-caliber rifle.
Both the prosecution and defense agreed there was no evidence Washington was intending to shoot Mills or anyone the day of the fatal shooting. The lawyers agreed Washington was at the scene reluctantly to help his stepfather who had been involved in a series of disputes and altercations in the area that day.
The prosecution conceded Washington apparently panicked and fired a shot to frighten people away as the situation with his stepfather escalated.
Members of Mills' family are expected to be in court for sentencing. But his mother, Kimberly Milks, will not be allowed into the courtroom as she was barred by state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti from attending the sentencing due to an obscenity-laced outburst in court the day of the plea.