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Man pleads guilty in 2023 West Side shooting death
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Kristopher Darling testified earlier this month that he sat in a car while his two co-defendants fatally shot a woman in front of her 10-year-old daughter.
Darling, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and two other felonies in connection with the 2023 shooting death of 33-year-old Brandy McManus and faces 10 to 15 years in prison. His sentencing hearing before 2nd Judicial District Judge Matthew Chavez has not been scheduled.
Darling testified this month in the trial of a co-defendant that he drove two men to a neighborhood in the 600 block of Canis NW as part of a botched robbery that led to McManus’ shooting death on Nov. 20, 2023. McManus was shot through the door of her home after she refused to open the door to two men wearing masks.
A jury failed to reach a verdict Sept. 18 in the trial of Austin Wilkins, 29, who prosecutors alleged took part in the attempted robbery. Prosecutors said they plan to retry Wilkins on charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges. No trial is scheduled in Wilkins’ case.
The other co-defendant, Joseph Montoya, 33, pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges in McManus’ death, court records show. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.
Prosecutors said that Montoya fired the fatal gunshot and allege that Wilkins was at Montoya’s side at the time.
Wilkins’ attorney, John McCall, contends that Wilkins was not present at the woman’s home at the time of the shooting and that Darling was the second man who accompanied Montoya to McManus’ home. Darling denied the allegation in his testimony.
