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Burlington teen pleads guilty to murder

Cristian Alexander Quijas, 16, appears in court Thursday at the Skagit County Community Justice Center in Mount Vernon to enter a guilty plea in the 2017 shooting death of 16-year-old Angel Estrada. (Charles Biles / Skagit Valley Herald)
By Leah Allen Skagit Valley Herald

MOUNT VERNON — Cristian Alexander Quijas, 16, pleaded guilty as an adult Thursday to second-degree murder.

Quijas was 15 when he shot and killed 16-year-old Angel Estrada in Burlington on March 30, 2017.

According to state law, 16- or 17-year-olds charged with qualifying violent offenses, including murder, are automatically charged as adults.

Because Quijas was 15 at the time of the shooting, it was up to Skagit County Superior Court Judge Brian Stiles to determine if Quijas could be charged as an adult.

Stiles did so in October.

Quijas is accused of firing six shots from a handgun at Estrada, a rival gang member, for dating his sister.

Quijas will be sentenced June 11.

Another teen charged in connection to Estrada’s death was previously sentenced.

Daniel Gracida, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty as an adult to second-degree manslaughter in October. He was sentenced to four years in detention.