Friday, March 22, 2013
The last of four defendants in a shooting death near a Topeka high school has entered a plea.
Twenty-three-year-old Coty Newman, of Topeka, pleaded guilty Friday to felony first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
Twenty-year-old Matthew Mitchell was killed in October 2010 near Topeka West High School. A 17-year-old friend of Mitchell's survived after being shot five times during a botched drug sale.
Prosecutors said Newman and another suspect opened fire.
As part of the plea, several drug charges were dismissed. Felony first-degree murder carries a life sentence with parole eligibility after 20 years. The prosecution and defense agreed to recommend that Newman receive a sentence of four years and 11 months for the attempted murder conviction.
Newman is to be sentenced July 19.
