Las Vegas, NV – January 18, 2024 – A 15-year-old who took a teenage life at a birthday party last March will spend at least eight years behind bars, according to a plea deal accepted Thursday.

Sincere Smith took an Alford plea on a second-degree murder charge, acknowledging the strong evidence against him without directly admitting guilt. He shot and killed 17-year-old Omarion Wilson during a gathering at a hotel on Flamingo Road, just off the Las Vegas Strip, on March 25, 2023.

The victim, a well-liked senior at Legacy High School known for his athletic prowess in football and track, was tragically cut short just before graduation. Surveillance footage played a crucial role in building the case against Smith.

Detectives reviewed video showing Smith and a group of other teenagers arriving at the hotel parking garage. The footage reportedly captured Smith removing a gun from his waistband and placing it in a backpack. Minutes later, after reaching the party floor, the same group was filmed fleeing via the stairs.

Under Nevada law, 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds charged with murder automatically face trial in the adult system. Certification, the process of transferring juvenile offenders to adult court for specific offenses, can also apply to children as young as 14 for serious crimes like murder.

Judge Tierra Jones has scheduled Smith’s sentencing for March 7. Under the plea deal, he could face up to 25 years in prison with the possibility of parole after serving at least eight years.

Credits: 8 News Now