A teenager pleaded guilty to the murder of a student at the academy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The teenager charged in the shooting death of an Albuquerque Academy student pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Cruz Medina pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the fatal shooting on Dec. 18, 2022. Medina was among a group of teenagers who fired shots from a car at a house party from which they had been kicked out. 18-year-old Jada Gonzalez was killed in the shooting.

About a month later, the police arrested Medina. At that time he was only 16 years old.

During Tuesday’s plea hearing, a judge ordered that his face not be shown because he is under 18.

Medina also pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. He faces 17 to 24 years in prison – more lenient because he is not yet 18 years old.

The court has not yet sentenced him.

In March 2023, prosecutors also charged Medina with armed robbery it happened in November 2022 – a month before he shot Gonzalez. Medina remained in prison since being charged with her murder.

Four more suspects they were charged with murdering Gonzalez.