Teen sentenced to prison for shooting, killing his 13-year-old sister

SALT LAKE CITY — An 18-year-old was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison on Monday for shooting and killing his sister in the family home.

Joseph Michael Landers, of Salt Lake City, pulled a gun out of his pocket in a room he was in with his 13-year-old sister, Angelica “Kica” Hernandez, and three other children. Charging documents said the sister asked, “What if you accidentally do pull it?” before Landers put a clip in the gun and cocked it to scare her.

The others in the room told officers Landers was pointing the gun at his sister’s head, asking if he should shoot her before pulling the trigger.

After he shot her, the witnesses said he seemed upset and ran from the room saying he wanted his mom and “I’m so sorry, I shot Kica.”

Third District Judge Matthew Bates issued the sentence and gave Landers credit for the more than a year and a half he has spent in custody.

Multiple employees at the Weber County Youth Facility where Landers has been staying wrote letters to the judge saying he accepts responsibility and is committed to improving.

Since he was 16 at the time of the offense, Landers will be moved from a secure care facility to the Utah State Prison when he turns 25 if he is not released by the Board of Pardons and Parole earlier.

Landers pleaded guilty on Sept. 17 to manslaughter, a second-degree felony, which was amended from murder, a first-degree felony. A second charge of use of a dangerous weapon as a restricted person, a second-degree felony, was not included in the amended charges.

Before the sentence was given, Landers and his mother spoke to the judge for a few minutes.