Lakeith, 18, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for felony murder in Alabama, with no chance of parole until at least 20 years have been served, according to reports.
He was charged with felony murder, armed burglary, second degree theft and third degree theft after a home invasion robbery in February 2015. Prosecutors said he and four other people broke into two homes. When police arrived, an officer fired shots and killed A’Donte, 16, who was part of the group. Body camera footage reportedly showed A’Donte holding a gun and allegedly pointing it at the officer. Under Alabama’s accomplice law, Lakeith was held responsible for A’Donte’s death even though he did not fire the shots.
A grand jury cleared the officer who fired. Three others in the case, Jhavarske, 23, Jadarien, 22, and La’Anthony, 22, pleaded guilty to felony murder, burglary and theft, and had not been sentenced at the time of this report.
Reports also said Lakeith turned down a plea offer of 25 years before his trial, and that he laughed when the judge announced the sentence. Chief assistant district attorney C.J. Robinson said he had compassion for Lakeith’s grandfather and family, who will be without him for 65 years.
The sentence has drawn criticism from people who question how the accomplice law was applied.
