Jonathan Smith (MDC)
A University of New Mexico freshman pleaded guilty Thursday to two felony crimes for his role in a deadly shooting on campus in November, the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s office said.
Jonathan Smith, 19, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery and tampering with evidence for participating in a plan to lure Mike Peake, a New Mexico State University basketball player, to a confrontation on the UNM campus, the DA’s office said.
Hill’s plea agreement is sealed and unavailable for public inspection, said Nancy Laflin, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Sam Bregman’s office. No sentencing hearing is scheduled.
The confrontation led to a gunfight that killed 19-year-old UNM freshman Brandon Travis and injured Peake, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.
Police say the group of UNM freshmen, including Travis, Smith and Mya Hill, 17, hatched a plan to lure Peake to campus to get revenge for a beating during a fight at the Aggies-Lobos football game in Las Cruces in October.
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When Peake arrived, the group confronted him and Travis fired several gunshots at Peake, striking him in the leg, according to the complaint. Peake returned fire, killing Travis, it said.
Neither Smith nor Hill fired a gun during the shootings, police said.
Smith was arrested Nov. 21 and was allowed to live with his mother in Plano, Texas, according to conditions of his release.
Hill was arrested in November and charged in children’s court with aggravated battery and conspiracy.
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