A 13-year-old boy charged with the shooting death of a 60-year-old man on a Regional Transportation District bus in Denver was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in the Division of Youth Services on Thursday.
The boy, who has not been identified because he is a juvenile, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder for the fatal shooting of Richard Sanchez on Jan. 27 on an RTD bus near South Federal Boulevard and West Mississippi Avenue.
The boy’s sentence included five years for the second-degree murder charge and six months for attempted murder, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
“Richard Sanchez’s senseless death is yet another example of the tragedy that often results when juveniles carry guns,” Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a statement Thursday.
“Over the past few years, my office has taken important steps to address this deeply disturbing issue but clearly more needs to be done to prevent future tragedies in Denver,” McCann said.
The boy shot Sanchez after a verbal altercation that started when the boy and a group of juveniles boarded the bus and walked past Sanchez, whose leg was in the aisle, according to a police report.
Sanchez then walked toward the group and confronted them at the back of the bus, where the boy shot Sanchez multiple times and stepped over Sanchez’s body to leave the bus.
The 13-year-old was initially charged with first-degree murder, assault, endangering a public transport crew and other charges, which were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
In a statement, McCann said while she does not think that five years is a sufficient sentence, it’s the longest allowed for a juvenile convicted of second-degree murder in Colorado.
“Were it not for the actions of a 13-year-old boy with a gun, Richard Sanchez would still be alive today, and my thoughts today are with all those who knew and loved him,” McCann said
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