Man who shot teen in 2021 pleads guilty to manslaughter

Federal Way, WALocal News

Michael Leemoui, a Federal Way man, has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Antonio Garcia-Fonseca in 2021 while he was working as a security officer at Buddy’s Cannabis in Renton. The plea deal followed a hung jury in July 2024 during Leemoui's trial for second-degree murder. On March 1, 2021, Leemoui pursued a group of teenagers who had just robbed a man, and during this pursuit, he shot Garcia-Fonseca. The state now recommends a sentence of 114 months for Leemoui, which includes a lifetime no-contact order with the victim's family and restitution for an amount yet to be determined. After serving his prison term, he will also face 36 months of community custody and mandatory DNA testing.

The maximum sentence for first-degree manslaughter can reach life in prison, underscoring the gravity of the crime. This incident raises significant concerns about the use of firearms by security personnel and the implications of public violence, contributing to the ongoing discussions around gun control and public safety in Washington state.

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