19-year-old pleads guilty to aggravated murder in shooting at neighboring apartment

WASHINGTON, Washington County — A teenager pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his neighbor in their home two years ago when he was 17.

Simeon Gil Calnimptewa, now 19, of Washington, pleaded guilty on June 9 to aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, as part of a plea deal that dismissed 10 additional felonies.

Police were called to 20 N. Red Trail Lane in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 30, 2024, on reports that a man had been shot. A woman said she and the victim, Bransen Bryels-Nechanicky, 33, returned home at about 1:45 a.m. to find several of their belongings had been moved to the middle of the living room, according to charging documents.

According to the plea statement, Calnimptewa entered a neighbor's residence, and when two people returned, he left the bedroom with a ski mask, brandishing a gun. Bryels-Nechanicky "charged" him and was fatally shot while seeking to get the gun.

The man was shot and later died of injuries at the hospital. The woman said Calnimptewa pointed a gun at her, ordered her to open the door and grabbed a jar of money before leaving, according to charges.

Doorbell security footage helped officers recognize Calnimptewa, who left the apartment without a mask.

They said he was found sleeping in his home later that morning and was arrested. Charges said the stolen jar of money, a mask and gloves with blood on them were found in the apartment.

Calnimptewa is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 5 in 5th District Court. The aggravated murder conviction comes with a statutory sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

His plea agreement notes that because he was a teenager at the time of the incident, he cannot be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole or given the death penalty — which are other possible statutory sentences.

Prosecutors agreed to recommend concurrent sentences and allow Calnimptewa to be housed in a juvenile secure care facility until he is 25 years old.

The charges dismissed in the plea deal include aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and three counts of felony discharge of a firearm, first-degree felonies; theft, a second-degree felony; two counts of prohibited conduct with a firearm, a third-degree felony; and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon as a minor, a class B misdemeanor.

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