Rome Teen Pleads Guilty In Shooting Death Of Rome Infant

A Rome man has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of a 7-month old boy in November.

18-year old Henry Bartle was in Oneida County Court today, were he pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

Bartle told authorities he was cleaning his shotgun when the weapon accidentally went off, killing Nathaniel Hitt.  He also admitted to smoking marijuana before the incident.

Bartle be sentenced on March 21st.

If the judge decides to grant Bartle youthful offender status, he'll receive one to four years in state prison.