By Shannon Middleton
For The Herald
Two teen-age boys accused of accidentally shooting another teen at the Shoreline Public Library pleaded guilty Tuesday.
A 14-year-old boy pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in juvenile court, said Dan Donohoe, King County prosecutor.
Donohoe said that because of the nature of the crime and the boy’s lack of remorse, prosecutors will recommend that the 14-year-old receive three years detention instead of the typical sentence of six months to a year.
The other teen, who is 13 and was with the 14-year-old at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to rendering criminal assistance. Donohoe said an exceptional sentence also will be recommended for the 13-year-old. Instead of the standard 30 days detention, prosecutors will ask for five months.
The 14-year-old was playing with a .38-caliber revolver outside the library in October when it discharged, hitting 16-year-old Dustin Rakestraw in the forehead.
The two boys dragged Rakestraw’s body into a woody area near the library and threw the gun into a retaining pond as they ran away.
Rakestraw’s body lay there for three days as groups of students from Kellogg Middle School went to see it, some believing it was a mannequin. None of them called police or told an adult.
The boys will be sentenced April 10 in King County Juvenile Court.
Shannon Middleton is a reporter for the Enterprise newspaper who covers the Shoreline area. Call her at 425-673-6526 or e-mail Middleton@heraldnet.com
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