By Associated Press - Wednesday, March 22, 2017

PITTSBURGH (AP) - One of two teenagers charged in western Pennsylvania in the beating death of a fellow resident of a Pittsburgh group home three years ago has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Seventeen-year-old Yusuf Shepard also pleaded guilty Wednesday in Allegheny County to aggravated assault and conspiracy in the January 2014 death of Nicholas Grant at Circle C Youth and Family Services Group Home. A plea agreement calls for a five- to 10-year sentence.

Eighteen-year-old Malik Crosby is scheduled for a nonjury trial next month.



Authorities alleged that Shepard put Grant in a chokehold while Crosby beat him with a vacuum cleaner that Grant had thrown.

Defense attorney Almon Burke Jr. said Yusuf is remorseful, never intended to kill the victim and “was not acting in concert with” his co-defendant.

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