The 15-year-old girl accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Anacostia High School sophomore Garey Gordon, has pleaded “involved,” a juvenile plea equivalent to “guilty.”
The girl entered her plea to involuntary manslaughter on April 21. Homicide Watch D.C. learned of it today at a hearing for her release.
On Monday Judge Patricia Broderick declined to release the teen or to rule on the consequences for involuntary manslaughter, saying that the court did not yet have enough information about the girl to determine what type of release or confinement would be most beneficial for her.
The teen’s “involved” plea applies to four charges: involuntary manslaughter, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of unregistered firearm and discharging a firearm. Three additional charges were dropped: voluntary manslaughter while armed, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of ammunition without valid registration.
D.C. Superior Court rules prohibit Homicide Watch from identifying the teen involved because she is a juvenile.
The 15-year-old’s attorney advocated for her return home to her parents. The attorney said that it was a “lack of structure” at home that led to her client’s “terrible mistake,” but that parenting classes could improve the home situation.
Prosecutors argued that the teen hasn’t done well in the custody of a shelter house. She was late for curfew and, within 48 hours of being placed there, tested positive for marijuana, they said.
Broderick said those factors influenced her decision to seek more information in the case.
“It’s not a question of parenting classes,” the judge said. “This is a child who needs a lot of guidance… I’m not satisfied that we have a plan yet.”
