A man who claimed self defense in the deadly shooting of a Columbus teen has accepted a plea deal.
On Friday, Krieg Butler, 38, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty during the second day of jury deliberations. He shot and killed 13-year-old Sinzae Reed in 2022 at the Wedgewood Apartments in the Hilltop.
Butler pleaded guilty to charges of improperly handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence.
There are other unresolved elements of the case, including who may have caused an apparent gun fight between the Butler and Reed. Butler's guilty plea could possibly result in additional arrests in connection with Reed's death.
Police say witnesses saw Reed fire a gun at Butler, and then saw someone collect the gun and shell casings after Reed was shot.
During the trial, Prosecutor David Zeyen and defense attorneys outlined a possible reason why Reed was shooting at Butler, which may have been a woman telling an ex-partner that Butler abused her. The woman's ex-partner allegedly threatened to kill Butler or hire someone to kill him.
WOSU has chosen not to identify the man.
During the trial, attorneys say the man left the neighborhood right after the shooting and went into hiding in West Virginia.
Butler agreed to turn over the gun he used to shoot Reed and to testify if anyone else is charged in Reed's death.
"Should anyone ever be arrested or charged with the murder or the homicide of Sinzae Reed, (Butler) agrees by the terms of this plea to testify truthfully in any subsequent trial or hearing that's held on that matter should that ever occur," Zeyen said.
Zeyen recommended Butler be sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation.
The charge of improperly handling a firearm carries a possible sentence of 18 months. Tampering with evidence carries a possible sentence of three years. Zeyen recommended that the judge go easier on Butler.
