Jymaika S. Hutson admitted to killing Lee in 2007. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and will likely be sentenced to 14 ½ years in prison.

purported gang member alleged to have killed 24-year-old Tyree E. Lee during a Central District gang rivalry has pleaded guilty to murder.

Changing his plea Monday, Jymaika S. Hutson admitted to killing Lee in 2007. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and will likely be sentenced to 14 ½ years in prison.

Lee, regarded by law enforcement as a member of a Central District street gang, was shot to death outside a friend's home on an April evening in 2007. King County prosecutors contended Hutson killed Lee in part because he believed Lee had shot him months before.

Speaking Tuesday, Hutson's defense attorney James Womack said there was no evidence that his client was involved in a gang at the time of the shooting, and pointed out that Hutson has not admitted to any motive in the shooting.

Womack also noted that much of the prosecution's case rested on a single witness, Gilbert Kinney, who drove Hutson to and from the shooting seen, and may have provided the murder weapon.

On April 28, 2007, officers were called to the 2600 block of East Alder Street following a report of shots.

Police arrived to find Lee had been shot multiple times in the back, torso and legs. He died later that evening at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Witnesses to the shooting told police a white Chevrolet SUV had pulled up as Lee was walking to a friend's home. A passenger, Hutson, got out of the vehicle, drew a pistol and fired at least eight shots at Lee.

One witness told police he heard what would be some of Lee's last words.

"Hey man, I don't have a beef with you," Lee told Hutson, according to the witness.

Hutson then gunned him down.

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