Teen enters guilty plea in Sears shooting

A teenager who encouraged his cousin to shoot and kill another teen in the parking lot of a Sears store has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Alexis Rodriguez initially faced multiple first-degree felonies for the Jan. 6, 2007, death of Diego Mendoza, 16. Last week he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree felony attempted murder. A firearms charge was dropped.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 10 in 3rd District Court. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

Rodriguez, 18, and Luis Salazar Mendoza, 24, were at a taco stand outside Sears on 800 South and State Street in Salt Lake City when they got into an argument about race and gang involvement with Diego Mendoza and two other men. Diego Mendoza suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. A second man, Eder Orona, was shot and wounded, but survived.

Luis Salazar Mendoza, who is not related to the victim, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and attempted murder with injury, both first-degree felonies, for shooting Orona. He was sentenced in March to a prison term of 30 years to life.

Michelle Ramirez, 24, who served as a getaway driver for Rodriguez and Luis Salazar Mendoza, was sentenced last year to 78 days in the county jail and deportation for her role in the shooting.

— Associated Press