17-year-old shot dead during sleepover, Texas cops say. Now friend is going to prison

A man convicted of killing his friend during a sleepover will spend decades in prison, a Texas judge ruled.

James Michael Sotelo, who was 18 during the fatal March 20, 2021, shooting of 17-year-old Corey Thompson, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a July 20 news release.

“There was absolutely no reason for this cold-blooded murder, so we know this man is a danger to the community,” Ogg said after the sentencing.

Sotelo, now 21, fired at least 13 shots as Thompson was attempting to go to bed at 3 a.m. in the Sotelo family home in the Cypress area, the district attorney said. Eleven of the shots hit Thompson, including several in the back.

Authorities said one bullet traveled through the bedroom wall and struck Sotelo’s brother in the face as he was sleeping. The brother survived, but Thompson died.

Sotelo was convicted of murder and deadly conduct in November and was sentenced eight months later, according to the district attorney.

“According to the defendant, he wasn’t intoxicated or under the influence of any drugs, which makes deliberately pulling the trigger 13 times that much worse,” Assistant District Attorney Kyle Tucker, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement.

April Wright, Corey Thompson’s mother, said Sotelo “never” showed any remorse or took accountability for the shooting, KRIV reported.

“[His guilty verdict] was a relief for us to know he would take some punishment for what happened,” Wright told the station.

Thompson was known as an “extremely talented athlete” who “had a heart for those less fortunate,” according to his obituary.

“Corey had a smile that would light up the darkest room,” a Change.org petitioner said. “He believed in embracing and loving all people, and only wanted people to enjoy the beauty of life with him.”

The petition had called for Sotelo to remain in jail prior to the trial. He had initially been bonded out of jail but was arrested again on gun charges, authorities said.

Sotelo will be eligible for parole in 20 years, the district attorney said.

Cypress is about a 30-mile drive northwest from Houston.

This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 6:23 AM with the headline "17-year-old shot dead during sleepover, Texas cops say. Now friend is going to prison."