Seattle Boy, 15, Pleads Guilty In School Shooting

A 15-year-old Seattle boy has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a young man at a school dance last fall and faces up to 17 years in prison.

Robert Sidwell admitted to gunning down 18-year-old Donell Duncan outside Rainier Beach High School on Sept. 23, 1994.

Witnesses said Duncan had gotten into a fight with a member of a group Sidwell was part of and was shot three times in retaliation. Another teenager was wounded by a stray bullet.

Sidwell was arrested in April, and a Juvenile Court judge determined he should stand trial as an adult.

Sidwell entered guilty pleas to second-degree murder and assault charges last week as his trial was set to begin in King County Superior Court. Deputy Prosecutor Amy Freedheim said she plans to ask for the maximum sentence when Sidwell is sentenced in January.

Defense attorney Michael Trickey plans to request a relatively light sentence based on Sidwell's mental deficiencies, including an apparent diagnosis that he suffers from fetal-alcohol syndrome.

Sidwell has juvenile convictions that include attempted robbery and assault.