photo by: McPherson County Sheriff's Office

Mehki McDaniel

A Topeka man pleaded guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter in the killing of an 18-year-old last year in Lawrence.

The man, Mehki McDaniel, 20, was charged with second-degree murder and six counts of theft of a firearm in the shooting death of Peyton Whitaker, 18, of Topeka, on Nov. 24, 2021. McDaniel pleaded guilty in Douglas County District Court to the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of theft.

Senior Assistant District Attorney David Greenwald told the court that should the case have gone to trial, the jury would have heard testimony to the effect that McDaniel and an associate had stolen multiple guns and were in the process of selling them in the basement of a house in the 200 block of Yorkshire Drive — and that while McDaniel was showing a stolen modified Glock handgun, it went off and struck Whitaker in the side, leading to his death.

Greenwald asked the court to release Whitaker’s autopsy to his family, and Judge Stacey Donovan agreed to the request.

Donovan discussed the sentencing possibilities with McDaniel, who was represented by defense attorney Branden Smith, before he accepted the plea agreement. She said that he could face 136 months, or more than 11 years, but that because he had little to no criminal history he could likely face as little as 24 months.

McDaniel was returned to custody in the Douglas County Jail. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 7.

As previously reported by the Journal-World, McDaniel was arrested on Dec. 6, 2021, along with Ansley Fogle, 24, of Topeka, in McPherson County after a coordinated effort by Lawrence police, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office.

Fogle was charged with interference with law enforcement and obstructing apprehension or prosecution, both felonies. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 17, according to court records.