LANTANA, Fla. (CBS12) — Benjamin Coreas, 22, was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday for his role in the killing of a teenager during a fight in Lake Worth over two years ago. Coreas had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter with a firearm and being a delinquent in possession of a firearm. The charge was reduced from second-degree murder after negotiations with prosecutors.
The fatal incident occurred on January 16, 2022, at the Lantana Cascades Mobile Home Park on West Cat Cay Road, during a confrontation between several people. Brian Guevara, the 17-year-old victim, died from a gunshot wound after being struck by friendly fire. Coreas, along with two other men, Javier Benitez and Oliver Campos, was involved in the altercation. Benitez and Campos were later convicted of providing false information to police and being accessories after the fact to second-degree murder. They are scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene around 10 p.m. and learned that shots had been fired during the altercation, which may have involved machetes. Guevara was rushed to JFK Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries. Authorities also found that Guevara may have been dropped off at the hospital after a detour to Coreas’ home.