In the early hours of October 6, 2015, a sense of unease lingered in the parking lot of an apartment complex near Lynnwood, Washington. It was here that the life of 16-year-old Anthony Boro, a White male and a sophomore at Mariner High School, was tragically cut short. Just before 1 a.m., Boro was with a group of other young people when a confrontation turned deadly.
He was shot in the back while running away and died from the gunshot wound to his trunk.
The investigation into the senseless act quickly led to the arrest of two residents of the apartment complex, 25-year-old Charles Courtney and 20-year-old Jesse Ray Landrum. It appeared that the two men did not know Boro. Reports from the investigation suggest Courtney, believing a rival was outside his apartment, emerged with a handgun. After startling Boro, who then fled, Courtney chased after him and fired the fatal shot from a distance of nearly 80 feet, the bullet striking Boro's spine and heart.
Following the shooting, as Boro lay dying, Landrum was accused of kicking him multiple times. Courtney, a U.S. Army veteran who had served in Iraq, later reportedly bragged about the shooting, calling it his "first confirmed kill." His defense would later argue that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was reacting as he had been trained. However, this claim was disputed by prosecutors who pointed to his drug dealing activities and a history of trouble that led to his discharge from the military.
Both men were brought to justice for their roles in Anthony Boro's death. Jesse Ray Landrum pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Charles Courtney was convicted of first-degree murder and heroin possession. He was sentenced to over 30 years in prison. An appeal arguing his trial was flawed and that his confessions were obtained illegally was later denied.
