(featured image by: NBC News)
One of the two suspects who orchestrated a Colorado school shooting in May pleaded guilty to 17 felonies on Friday, including the charge of first-degree murder.
Alec McKinney, 16, reached a plea deal with prosecutors following a ruling from a judge in December, that said he would be tried as an adult, Fox 31 reported. He originally faced 48 charges in connection with the crime.
Police interviews depicted McKinney as the leader of the shooting and reveal that he recruited Devon Erickson, 19, to assist him in the rampage, according to Fox 17.
(Victim: Kendrick Castillo gunned down after lunging at suspect)
The two are accused of coming to school and opening fire, killing one student and injuring eight more.
The student who was killed, Kendrick Castillo, 18, was gunned down when he lunged at one of the suspects, who opened fire in his classroom. Another student, Brendan Bialy, also helped to disarm one of the shooters but survived.
The two students had a “number of weapons,” which included two handguns, according to Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock. He also noted that neither suspect was old enough to buy or own the weapons.