Twin Cities teen gets 35 years for killing 13 year old boy

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the shooting death of a 13-year-old Minneapolis boy who was on a bicycle.

Donquarius Copeland was sentenced Tuesday in the death of Ray'Jon Gomez in August 2011.

Copeland pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder and attempted murder.

Gomez was riding on the back of a friend's bike when he was hit. The 12-year-old boy steering the bike was also hit by gunfire, but survived.

Authorities say Kemen Taylor persuaded Copeland and Derrick Catchings to shoot at several boys riding bikes in a Minneapolis alley. Taylor was sentenced to life without parole earlier this month.

The judge commended Copeland for testifying against Taylor. The Star Tribune

reports Copeland said he's ready to serve his time "like a man."