Teen charged in deadly Wichita mall shooting told judge he wants to withdraw his plea
A teenager charged with murdering a 14-year-old when he opened fire at an east Wichita mall two years ago has changed his mind about entering a plea.
On Monday, during a hearing where he was supposed to be sentenced in the March 18, 2022, shooting death of TrenJ’vious Hutton, 19-year-old Te’bryis Robinson told Sedgwick County District Judge Jeffrey Goering that he wanted to withdraw his no contest plea, Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Dan Dillon said.
“Judge Goering appointed the (Sedgwick County) Public Defender’s Office to represent Robinson. A status hearing date will be scheduled,” Dillon said.
Robinson had pleaded no contest on July 12 to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery and was facing a possible sentence of more than 20 years, court records show.
When a defendant is allowed to withdraw a plea, the case continues on toward a trial as if it hadn’t happened. Robinson was a juvenile when the shooting occurred, but prosecutors are trying him as an adult. He was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder and criminal use of weapons, court records show.
Robinson is accused of killing Hutton following a fistfight between a group of males near the food court of Towne East Square, Wichita’s largest shopping center. Authorities have said the fight had apparently broken up when Robinson walked away then turned and fired several shots, killing Hutton. Robinson’s defense lawyers previously argued he fired in self-defense, in part because Hutton had a gun and used it to hit him in the head.
Prosecutors, however, have said Hutton never pointed his gun at anyone and that Robinson’s use of deadly force was unjustified, according to court records.
The gunfire broke out around 5:30 p.m. on a Friday night, causing panic and chaos during a usually busy shopping time. Police have previously said they think the shooting was gang-related.
The teens are from Wichita.
This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 7:00 PM.
