Driver in shooting that killed 14-year-old gets deferred judgment

The only person charged to date in a drive-by shooting that killed a 14-year-old boy has received a deferred judgment.

Prosecutors say Eliza Sackie, now 19, was driving the car from which another individual fired several shots at a group of people on a porch on New Year's Day 2020. Josiah Woods was struck in the head and killed.

Sackie was arrested in June 2020 and charged with first-degree murder. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors reduced her charges Friday to intimidation with a weapon and accessory after the fact, and Sackie's attorney told the judge she had cooperated and given information to police in the investigation.

Despite that cooperation, and a Des Moines police statement at the time of her arrest that "additional arrests are expected," no other suspects have been publicly identified or charged.

Under the plea agreement, Sackie entered an Alford plea, meaning she maintains innocence but admits the government has enough evidence to convict her.

Previously:Des Moines pastor calls 14-year-old son's shooting death a 'senseless act of violence'

Both sides agreed Friday that Sackie should not serve prison time on the amended charges. Prosecutors requested a suspended sentence with probation, while the defense requested a deferred judgment, meaning the charges can be removed from her record if she completes probation.

Attorney: Sackie 'here to accept responsibility'

Sackie's attorneys told the judge that she has thrived since her release from jail last year, completing high school, finding a job mentoring immigrant and refugee children, having two children of her own and making plans to attend college.

"This is a young woman who has had some pretty extraordinary circumstances she’s had to face," attorney Richelle Mahaffey said. "She’s here to accept responsibility."

Sackie told the judge she tries to instill a habit of responsibility and accountability in the students she works with at Genesis Youth Foundation, but that "the practice starts with me."

"I am deeply sorry to the family," she said. "If only I had known what was to transpire that night, I wouldn’t have gone along."

'Whose son will it be tomorrow?':Father of 14-year-old killed on New Year's Day pleads for community healing

Under the suspended sentence and probation prosecutors sought, the conviction would have remained on Sackie's record. Assistant Polk County Attorney Tom Miller argued that a deferred judgment would "depreciate the seriousness of the offense."

"This is yet again another case in our community where young people are killed in gunfire," Miller said. "A young man’s life was lost in this case, and giving this defendant the benefit of every doubt, which of course we have to do, she at least facilitated the perpetrators in escaping the consequences of a murder."

Victim's mother pushes for prison sentence

Woods' mother, Rachel Lyons, also gave a statement calling for Sackie and the others involved in the shooting to be incarcerated.

"I believe everyone involved in that situation needs to be off the street. They’re dangerous. I don’t feel comfortable with any of those people walking around," Lyons said. "I understand she was young, but these were dangerous decisions. You understood that you were circling back to a house, and that someone in the car had a gun."

Judge Scott Rosenberg also emphasized the seriousness of the shooting, telling Sackie that "you’ve done a good and more than good job at getting a second chance. I want you to know in no uncertain terms that someone (Woods) doesn’t have a second chance anymore."

Still, he said a deferred judgment was appropriate in light of Sackie's age, 17 at the time of the shooting, and her cooperation with police.

Des Moines police spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek said Friday that the investigation is ongoing and there are no other updates at this time.

Asked after Sackie's sentencing whether charges are coming against other suspects, prosecutor Nan Horvat said, "not yet."

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.