Teen accepts plea deal in 2022 murder of a Deerfield Beach High football player
Keantae Vaughn was jailed at 14 years old after being accused of killing star football player Rickey Ferguson Jr., who was 16. Now, three years later, Vaughn has accepted a plea deal that might see him get 25 years in prison for the 2022 shooting.
The trial to determine Vaughn’s guilt or innocence in the slaying began Tuesday, but was short-lived because, on that same day, Vaughn, now 17, and his legal team accepted a plea deal from the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, Natalie Lopez, his attorney, told the Miami Herald.
It’s unclear if Vaughn will plead no contest, meaning he does not admit guilt but does accept punishment, or will change his plea to guilty. The records associated with the deal have not yet been made public. However, Lopez said a 25-year prison sentence was agreed upon.
A plea change and sentencing hearing will be held on Monday morning, Jan. 12, when the deal will be finalized and the judge will either accept the 25-year sentence or amend it.
On Dec. 28, 2022, Ferguson was shot in the head by Vaughn on the football field at West Side Park in Deerfield Beach, records show. Ferguson was a sophomore and star player for Deerfield Beach High School.
On Jan. 7, 2023, Vaughn was indicted by a grand jury and charged as an adult with first-degree murder.
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