William Key, 21,accused of killing a 16-year-old as part of a Black Guerrilla Family gang rite has been sentenced

Baltimore man accused of killing a 16-year-old as part of a Black Guerrilla Family gang rite has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and related charges, prosecutors said. On Thursday, a jury was unable to reach a verdict against William Key, 21, who was accused in the Oct. 13, 2007, slaying of Deron Hope. Prosecutors say Hope was killed by Key and co-defendant Kenneth Robbins because Robbins wanted to be initiated into the gang. But after the hung jury, Key suddenly pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, the same charge Robbins pleaded to in May. Robbins is to be sentenced in November.

Posted in: Black Guerrilla Family