LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The family of a 17-year-old who was shot and killed in Las Vegas is voicing their frustration over the prosecution of their loved one’s killer.
Keanu Enright died last month on Oct. 16 at a home at the intersection of Bramble Court and Greenhurst Road near Alta Drive and Rainbow Boulevard.
The Clark County Coroner ruled his death a homicide.
“This is murder. This isn’t involuntary manslaughter. He should be tried as an adult. My son deserves justice,” Thomas John Enright said on Wednesday.
The 15-year-old boy who pulled the trigger was sentenced to a youth prison on Wednesday, despite the pleas of family to move the case to adult court. Keanu Enright’s family and friends held a protest outside family court hours before.
“I was told by the [district attorney] that kids point guns at other kids all the time. I’m sorry, I don’t think that’s true. You point a gun at someone, you plan on killing them,” Thomas John Enright said. “He was about to graduate high school. He was going to join the United States Navy, and all these people here were touched by him.”
Inside the courthouse, Keanu’s family and friends faced the 15-year-old who admitted to firing a ghost gun. Prosecutors and defense attorneys said four teens were in a house playing video games when the gun used to kill Keanu was pulled.
“He made the decision to rack the gun to check while the gun was pointed at Keanu. His finger was on the trigger,” Chief Deputy Clark County District Attorney Christina Calderon said.
8 News Now is not identifying the 15-year-old boy since he’s a minor. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter before Wednesday’s sentencing.
“It was a complete accident. In fact, a tragic accident that is going to follow him for the rest of his life,” Mandy McKellar the teen’s attorney said.
Keanu’s family disputed any notion the shooting was an accident.
“Go to a friend’s house and then kill your supposed friend. Let him bleed out on the floor, not caring. That’s not a friend, that’s a monster,” Jamie Marcelo, his cousin said.
Clark County Family Court Judge Dee Smart Butler was sympathetic to Keanu’s family but said on Wednesday her hands were tied with moving the case to adult court since another judge accepted the teen’s plea deal.
“I know that there’s no legal consequence that I can give here in juvenile court that will ever make you whole,” Judge Butler said.
The time the 15-year-old will serve in youth prison isn’t a public record since he’s a juvenile. Once he is released, his records will be sealed.
