Teen sentenced to life in prison in death of 12-year-old boy

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) – A Kansas teenager has been sentenced to life in prison in the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy during a botched gun deal.

A jury convicted 18-year-old Jaylen LaRon Johnson of Kansas City, Kansas, of first-degree murder last month. Sentencing was Friday.

Prosecutors say Johnson and two other men drove to Leavenworth to purchase a gun on April 14, 2021.

The sellers allegedly sold a BB gun to one of Johnson’s friends. Authorities say Johnson began shooting when he realized it wasn’t the gun they wanted.

Eleven bullets struck the seller’s car.

Twelve-year-old Brian Henderson Jr. was in the backseat and died in the shooting.