A Rapid City teenager has pleaded guilty to 1st-degree manslaughter in what he insists was the accidental Nov 2021 shooting death of a friend.
17-year old James Hight faces up to 40 years in prison when he’s sentenced April 10th.
Hight, who was 16 at time of the shooting, was scheduled last week for a hearing on whether his case should be moved to juvenile court but he instead entered the guilty plea in adult court for the death of Jayden Russell.
Hight’s defense said he and a few others were playing Russian Roulette, using a revolver without bullets, on Nov 28, 2021
Hight said he then put a bullet into the gun, but was using it recklessly. He pulled back the hammer, not understanding how it works, and the gun fired with the bullet fatally striking Russell in the face.