Boot Camp For Canadian Diplomat's Son Involved In Deadly Shooting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — The son of a Canadian diplomat in Miami, who was involved a drug deal shooting in which his brother and another teen were killed, will not be going to prison under terms of a plea deal.
A judge approved the agreement Friday that sends Marc Wabafiyebazu to a boot camp style program for nine to 18 months where he'll receive behavior courses and drug treatment. He be on house arrest for two years and then serve eight years of probation.
Wabafiyebazu was charged as an adult with felony murder in a drug-related March 2015 shooting.
Surveillance video captured Marc, who was 15 years old at the time, and his brother, 17-year-old Jean Wabafiyebazu, arrive at a Coral Way apartment in their mother's car with diplomatic plates. The brothers had reportedly gone to the apartment to rob a drug dealer of $5,000 in marijuana.
Moment's after Jean leaves the car, shots ring out.
Jean and another teen inside the apartment, 17-year old Joshua Wright, were killed.
Marc is seen in the video running into the apartment. He allegedly grabbed one of his brother's guns and fired several rounds.
The defense claims he did this to attract attention and get help. The boy raised his hands in surrender the moment officers arrived at the scene of the shooting.
While he shot no one, he was charged with murder for participating in a crime where someone was killed.
Defense attorneys have described Wabafiyebazu as an innocent tag along to a troubled older brother.
"This is a young man that does have significant redeeming qualities. He unfortunately made a horrible decision to hang out with his older brother who apparently was up to no good," said defense attorney Curt Obront.
Wabafiyebazu's mother is Roxanne Dube,Canada's consul general in Miami. She's currently on leave.
After the deal was accepted his mother, Roxanne Dube, was relieved and grateful.
"Today, it's the mother that is the happiest in the world because I get to have my son back," said Dube.
"This gives him a chance to straighten out his life. If he takes that chance, he will go forward, if he fails, he will be harshly punished," said ed Griffith with the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
The judge sternly warned the teen that if he performed poorly in boot camp or violated the terms of his house arrest, he would go to prison for 60 years.
