RAPID CITY, S.D. — One of two people charged with shooting and killing a Box Elder teenager in February has plead guilty to manslaughter.
Cole Waters, 19, of Rapid City had initially been charged with murder in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, and conspiracy to commit a felony in the shooting death of 17-year-old Emmanuel Hinton.
Hinton was shot in the alleyway behind Blaine Avenue on February 26 and later died from his injuries. Waters and Andre Martinez, also 19, were both arrested and charged the next day. Their attorneys subsequently submitted a motion that the two inmates to be tried separately.
According to statements from the state prosecutor, Deputy State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel, Waters admitted to putting the gun to Hinton’s head and pulling the trigger.
Martinez will have a status hearing in July.
A sentencing date has yet to be set for Waters.
