Teen sentenced to 90 days for killing best friend accidentally

Published: Aug. 25, 2016 at 9:39 PM EDT|Updated: Aug. 25, 2016 at 10:11 PM EDT
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DeMichael Adams (Source: Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office)
DeMichael Adams (Source: Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office)

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A teenager admits he accidentally killed his best friend during his plea hearing.

DeMichael Adams was in court Thursday and pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Eighteen-year-old Dallas Stowe died in March after he was shot in the chest. Both teenagers' family were in court.

Adams defense lawyer explained both families live very close to one another and haven't spoken since March. For the first time, DeMichael Adams asked for forgiveness. Dallas Stowe's mother told WBTV she has faith forgiveness will come, but not right now.

DeMichael Adams apologized to Dallas Stowe's family in court. He said they were like brothers and feels awful about accidentally shooting his best friend in the chest at Park Fairfax Drive.

Adams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He will have to serve three months in jail split up over the next 12 months and then will be on probation for three years.

Stowe's mother says she thinks the sentence is light and doesn't really understand what happened that night in March or why they were playing with guns.

Adams has agreed to participate in a CMPD video about gun violence. Stowe's mom, Tiffany White, said her family told the detective they will participate too.

"Just leave the guns alone. We're killing each other. Young kids are killing each other over gun violence, senseless," White said. "There's no reason why Dallas should not be here to this day to say 'hey mom I graduated from high school'."

White said Dallas was her only son. The judge suggested to Adams' probation officer that he serve part of his 90 day sentence in jail during the holidays so he could think about what his best friend's family is missing at that time.

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