18-year-old pleads guilty to killing teenager involved in drug deal

An 18-year-old pleaded guilty Thursday to murdering a teenager in a “drug deal gone wrong” last year.

Leland Westerland, then 16, admitted to killing 17-year-old Tyler Rowell and shooting two others as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. He was originally charged as an adult with murder during the commission of a robbery, two counts of assault and three counts of robbery.

Westerland instead pleaded guilty to premeditated murder and two counts of assault. The prosecution is demanding a prison sentence of 37 years. His defense attorney is demanding 22 years.

Westerland and a group of three people arranged to meet to buy cannabis oil in February 2023, court documents say. At the meeting, three people wearing ski masks approached Rowell and his two friends and opened fire. Police responded to 1725 E. Seventh Ave. and found Rowell dead and two others injured.

The minivan Rowell and his friends were traveling in was also seen fleeing the scene. Police found the car in Spokane Valley and arrested the driver, 18-year-old Hagen F. Charbonneau. They also arrested Gavin M. McGregor, 21, and Sapphire B. Jespersen, 20, in connection with the shooting.

Court records show that Charbonneau, who is still awaiting trial, told police McGregor needed money to pay a bail bondsman. They used Jespersen's Snapchat account to buy drugs, but instead framed the victims for a robbery.

The verdict against Westerland is scheduled for September 27.