Shoe Sale Gunman Pleads Guilty in Plymouth Shooting That Killed Teen
A Plymouth man has pleaded guilty to firing the fatal shots that killed an Albertville teenager near a Plymouth apartment complex.
Augustus Sirleaf, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday. The plea deal happened nearly one year after the Nov. 14, 2022 shooting.
Court documents show as part of the plea, Sirleaf agreed to a 23-year prison sentence with credit for time already served.
According to criminal complaints filed in the case:
Sirleaf and a co-conspirator, identified as Hans Madave, 20, of New Hope, arranged to make a sale over a pair of Balenciaga sneakers. The intent was to conduct a “lick,” slang for robbery, the complaint said.
During the planned robbery, both Sirleaf and Madave got into a vehicle with two occupants including the victim, identified as 17-year-old Yaseen Johnson. Sirleaf handed one of the shoes to Johnson. When Johnson stated he liked the sneakers and handed over money, Sirleaf demanded he get the shoe back. When Johnson refused, the complaint said he was shot twice in the head and once in the chest.
Sirleaf later told a witness he “had no choice but to shoot,” the complaint said.
The other suspect in the shooting, Madave, also agreed to a plea deal in the case.
Sirleaf is scheduled to be formally sentenced on Jan. 2.
