SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A Syracuse teenager has admitted falsely confessing to police that he was the sniper responsible for killing a man as he walked out of his home in January.
Ja-Le Johnson pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal facilitation and hindering prosecution.
The 16-year-old Johnson will be sentenced Nov. 23 to two to six years in prison.
Johnson was originally charged with murder after telling police he fired the deadly shot from the attic window of his home that killed 47-year-old Casimir Snyder across the street.
But authorities said ballistics evidence did not match Johnson's claim and they charged then-15-year-old Shawn Rhines with the killing. Rhines, now 16, is serving 10 years to life in prison after pleading guilty in April to second-degree murder.
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