Teen enters plea in fatal shooting
A 17-year-old boy entered a plea Monday to injuring another teen and fatally shooting a young woman during a street brawl that was recorded on social media last year.
Emmanuel Garner, of the 1000 block of Ketcham Avenue, entered Alford pleas — not admitting guilt — to felonious assault and a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter, both which carry firearm specifications, for the shooting death of De’Asia Wallace, 20, and the wounding of Tanaysia Young, 15.
Charges of murder and felonious assault, along with their respective firearm specifications, will be dismissed at sentencing.
The Garner youth could face up to 25 years in prison, though he could have faced life in prison with the more serious charges. Assistant county prosecutor Frank Spryszak said the state came to the plea agreement due to some complications with evidence.
During a large street brawl at Macomber and Isherwood streets on Sept. 24, 2017, Garner and other individuals retreated to a residence. One of the individual’s phone was still recording and a voice can be heard saying, “Shoot, shoot,” Spryszak said.
That’s when the youth shot from the porch into the crowd — striking Wallace and Young, the prosecutor said.
Christina Briggs, 34, urged the teen to shoot, Spryszak said. She is charged with inciting to violence with a firearm specification and obstructing justice. Her case is pending.
Briggs also took Garner to the hospital, because he too was shot, which was also indicated on a cellphone record, Spryszak said. Judge Gary Cook will sentence the teenager on Nov. 19.