Teen charged in fatal high school shooting accepts plea deal

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A high school student has pleaded guilty to the shooting death of a classmate at their school in North Carolina.

News outlets report that Jatwan Cuffie pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter as part of a plea agreement.

The 17-year-old faces about six years to nine years in prison at his October sentencing. He was originally charged as an adult with first degree murder.

Cuffie was 16 years old at the time of the shooting in October 2018. The student who was shot was 16-year-old classmate Bobby McKeithen.

Authorities said the shooting stemmed from texts exchanges between the two teens. Assistant District Attorney Desmond McCallum said Cuffie did not claim to be a victim of bullying. McCallum said Cuffie was trying to hurt but not kill McKeithen.