A teenager has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for a series of crimes, including murder, despite the fact he didn't fire the gun that caused the death.
Lakeith Smith, 18, was convicted of felony murder, burglary and theft, for his part in the 2015 burglaries of two houses in Millbrook, Alabama. He carried out the crimes alongside six others, including A'Donte Washington, 16, who was shot and killed by a police officer at the scene.
Body-cam footage from 23 February 2015, shows officers responding to reports of a burglary in process when the group, including Washington, began firing shots at the police. The cop that Washington ran towards with a .38 calibre gun fired four shots and killed the teen.
Despite being just 15 at the time of the crimes, Smith was tried as an adult under the state's accomplice liability laws, which means that although it was the police that fired the fatal shot, he was 'criminally responsible for the acts that led to Washington's death', USA Today reports.
Jennifer Holton, representing Smith told the court: "The officer shot A'Donte, not Lakeith Smith.
"Lakeith was a 15-year-old child, scared to death. He did not participate in the act that caused the death of A'Donte. He never shot anybody."
The officer who shot Washington was cleared by a grand jury - their identity has never been revealed.
In court on Thursday, Judge Sibley Reynolds passed down sentences of 30 years for murder, 15 for burglary and two 10-year sentences for theft - he will serve the sentences back-to-back.
He had previously been offered a plea-deal of 25 years, but turned it down.
The teenager was reported to smile and laugh when he was given the sentences.
Speaking to USA Today, chief assistant district attorney C.J. Robinson said: "I don't think Mr. Smith will be smiling long when he gets to prison.
"We are very pleased with this sentence. Because the sentences are consecutive, it will be a long time before he comes up for even the possibility for parole, at least 20 to 25 years."
Three other defendants have all entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.
Advert