Teen pleads guilty to attempted robbery in shooting of rookie NFL star running-back

A 15-year-old pleaded guilty during a juvenile hearing in Washington, D.C., to the attempted robbery that resulted in the shooting of Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr.

One day before his trial was scheduled to start Tuesday, the unidentified teen pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery in August 2022 and to the shooting death of a fellow teenager two months later. 

The teen, who was 14 at the time of the shootings, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Andre Robertson in October and the attempted robbery of Robinson in August, according to NBC Washington.

"I was trying to rob a man for a hellcat and it went wrong. I wasn't thinking," the teenager told police, referring to Robinson’s Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, prosecutors said.

The incident occurred along a popular strip of restaurants, bars and stores in the city known as the H Street Corridor. 

Robinson made a remarkable recovery, becoming a starting running back for the Commanders.

Authorities said that two teens, the 15-year-old and another teen, who is now 17, attempted to rob the running back in August.

Robinson ran away from the teens, but the 17-year-old pursued him. Robinson wrestled a gun out of his hands, and the 15-year-old shot him twice in the lower extremities, The Washington Post reported.

The 17-year-old arrested in connection to Robinson’s shooting pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license.

Prosecutors requested for the teen to be in the custody of the city’s youth services until he turns 20. He was previously charged in a fatal shooting at a Prince George’s County Mall in March 2022, according to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office. However, the state decided not to move forward with the charges against him due to a lack of evidence, said a spokesperson for the State’s Attorney, Aisha Braveboy. 

The 15-year-old killed Robertson in broad daylight when he was sitting on the porch of a family member's home. Prosecutors said the teen who pleaded guilty shot at Robertson from the inside of a car passing the home.

The teenager's sentencing is set for March 8. Prosecutors are requesting for him to remain in Youth Rehabilitation Services Department custody, where the judge could order him to stay until he turns 21.

Intern Danielle Hodes contributed to this story.