Teen Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Shooting Death of 13-Year-Old Sister

An 18-year-old Salt Lake City resident was sentenced Monday to one to 15 years in prison for the shooting death of his 13-year-old sister in their family home.

Joseph Michael Landers, who was 16 at the time of the incident, admitted to fatally shooting Angelica “Kica” Hernandez while in a room with three other children. According to court documents, the tragedy unfolded after Kica asked, “What if you accidentally do pull it?” This prompted Landers to insert a clip into the gun and cock it, reportedly to scare her.

Witnesses in the room said Landers pointed the gun at his sister’s head, asked if he should shoot her, and then pulled the trigger. After the shot, he appeared distraught, fled the room, and shouted for his mother, saying, “I’m so sorry, I shot Kica.”

Third District Judge Matthew Bates issued the sentence, granting Landers credit for the 18 months he has already spent in custody.

Also Read – Prison Time for Teen Who Shot and Killed His 13-Year-Old Sister

During his time at the Weber County Youth Facility, several staff members wrote letters to the court, emphasizing Landers’ acceptance of responsibility and commitment to self-improvement.

Given his age at the time of the offense, Landers will remain in a secure care facility until he turns 25. If not released earlier by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, he will then be transferred to Utah State Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Landers pleaded guilty on Sept. 17 to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, which was reduced from the original charge of first-degree murder. A second charge of use of a dangerous weapon as a restricted person was dismissed under the amended plea agreement.

Before sentencing, both Landers and his mother addressed the judge briefly, offering statements about the case and its impact on their family.

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keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.

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