EVERETT — A 16-year-old boy is expected to learn later this month how long he’ll be locked up for shooting another teen outside a south Everett elementary school in May.
Jose Alfredo Beteran pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree assault for the May 17 gunfire.
Beteran was accused of
shooting a 17-year-old boy in the chest outside Horizon Elementary School on W. Casino Road. The victim survived but underwent surgeries for his injuries.
The defendant told police that he and the other boy have had a beef for years, according to court papers. Beteran accused the victim of hitting him in the hand with a hammer several years ago.
Beteran said more recently he’d heard that the boy was talking badly about him, court papers said.
The defendant confronted the boy when he saw him playing basketball outside the school. He told detectives he pulled a gun and fired after the boy took a swing at him.
Charging documents made no mention of Beteran’s ties to a local gang. He told authorities that he’d belonged to a gang since he was about 13. Police also acknowledged that the victim was associated with a rival gang.
Beteran has previous convictions for assault and stealing cars.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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