Ogden, UT – An 18-year-old Salt Lake City man has been sentenced to one to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of his 13-year-old sister.
Joseph Michael Landers was charged in the death of Angelica “Kica” Hernandez, his younger sister, after a tragic incident at their family home. On the day of the shooting, Landers was reportedly in a room with his sister and three other children when he pulled out a gun. Witnesses told authorities that Hernandez, sensing danger, asked her brother, “What if you accidentally do pull it?”
According to charging documents, Landers then inserted a clip into the gun and cocked it, allegedly to scare his sister. However, witnesses said that Landers then pointed the weapon at Hernandez’s head, asking whether he should shoot her before pulling the trigger. The gun discharged, fatally injuring Hernandez.
After the shooting, witnesses stated that Landers appeared upset, running from the room and saying, “I’m so sorry, I shot Kica,” and expressing a desire to find their mother.
At a sentencing hearing on Monday, Third District Judge Matthew Bates handed down the prison sentence. Landers was given credit for the more than 18 months he has already spent in custody. The court also considered letters from staff members at the Weber County Youth Facility, where Landers has been held, expressing that he has taken responsibility for his actions and is committed to his personal improvement.
Landers had been 16 years old at the time of the incident, and as such, his sentence will be served in a secure care facility until he turns 25. Upon reaching that age, he will be transferred to the Utah State Prison, unless he is released earlier by the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole.
In September, Landers pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, a second-degree felony, after originally being charged with first-degree murder. The charge of use of a dangerous weapon as a restricted person, also a second-degree felony, was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Before the sentencing, both Landers and his mother addressed the judge, offering statements in the emotional hearing.
The case has drawn attention to the tragic consequences of gun misuse, especially within family settings, and has sparked discussions about the impact of firearms in the hands of young individuals.