A Manhattan teenager has avoided a first-degree murder trial by pleading no contest in last year’s killing of a high school classmate.

16-year-old Cole Drake faced trial as an adult next week for the fatal shooting of Tyler Dowling, a 14-year-old Manhattan High School freshman.

Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson announced Thursday that Drake pleaded no contest Wednesday evening to second-degree murder, robbery, and numerous counts of vehicle burglary. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29.

Dowling was found dead in a field in April 2011.

Authorities said Drake told investigators the two were out breaking into cars the night of the shooting. He said he accidentally shot Dowling once, then shot him again because he didn’t want Dowling to tell anyone what he did.