Teen Sentenced Up To 40 Years In Prison After Fatally Shooting 15-Year-Old
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A teenager will spend up to 40 years in prison after fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy two years ago in Duquesne.
Thomas McKissick, 17, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and attempted homicide in connection with the October 2017 shooting death of Lezra Rice, 15, of North Braddock before Judge Alexander P. Bicket of the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.
The attempted homicide charge concerned a separate teenager that McKissick had admitted to shooting the day before he shot Rice, authorities said.
In exchange for his plea, the Allegheny County District Attorney's office says it agreed to a prison sentence of 20 to 40 years.
According to the criminal complaint, McKissick fatally shot Rice on the evening of October 11th.
Police say they found Rice lying unresponsive just after 5 p.m. in an alleyway known in Duquesne as Nickly Hollow.
Police said emergency responders treated Rice for multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to UPMC McKeesport, where he was later pronounced dead.
The medical examiner's office determined that he died from a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Investigators used a ballistics report, as well as the suspect's Facebook messages, to help them identify McKissick as the one who shot Rice.
