PITTSBURGH
One of two men accused of shooting at five Duquesne University basketball players after a school dance last year pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison.
Derek Scott Lee, 19, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to five counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, plus one count of conspiracy and a weapons count.
Lee fired two shots, but neither hit the players, an Allegheny County prosecutor said at Tuesday’s hearing.
Lee’s attorney, Wendy Williams, said he has not agreed to cooperate with authorities, but pleaded guilty because he had faced more than 100 years in jail if convicted at trial.
“He takes responsibility for his actions and he’s not trying to take anyone else down,” she said.
Lee and co-defendant William Holmes, 19, of Pittsburgh, had gone to the Sept. 17, 2006, dance with two women, Assistant District Attorney Lisa Pellegrini said. One of the women flirted with some basketball players, leading to an argument between Lee and Holmes’ group and the players, she said.
