RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) - Jose Cruz has been sentenced to life in prison in the death of Steven Gale.
13-year-old Cruz pleaded guilty to second degree murder back in September.
Prosecutors say Cruz and three other people-- Jacob Sanchez, Luis Sanchez and Aurora Rodriguez-Perez-- were attempting to rob a woman on California Avenue on May 8 when Jacob Sanchez opened fire, killing her companion, Steven Gale, 27. In the course of the shooting, Cruz was shot in the hand and went to the hospital for treatment, where police were notified and an investigation led to the arrests of all four defendants on first degree murder charges.
Cruz must serve 16 years before he can apply for parole.
He is the youngest murder defendant in Washoe County history.