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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Wilkes-Barre man who investigators say is a member of the Crips street gang has agreed to plead guilty to a third-degree homicide charge as part of a plea deal.</p><p>Keanu Pinnock, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday morning to fatally shooting <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/631286/preliminary-hearing-underway-for-man-charged-with-fatal-september-shooting" target="_blank">Irvando &#8220;Yardie&#8221; Crooks</a> on Sept. 2, 2016. Two lesser charges &#8212; conspiracy to commit homicide and tampering with evidence &#8212; were dropped by prosecutors in exchange for the plea.</p><p>The deal was offered to Pinnock on the condition that he agrees to testify in the upcoming trial of his co-defendant, Tevon Thomas, 25, another alleged Crip member.</p><p>Pinnock&#8217;s plea was entered before Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. The judge set Pinnock&#8217;s sentencing for Jan. 16.</p><p>Pinnock is facing between 20 and 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. A recommended sentence is expected to be submitted by prosecutors before the judge decides on punishment.</p><p>If prosecutors do not submit a recommendation by the sentencing date, the plea agreement states, Pinnock will be able to withdraw his plea with no objection from the prosecution.</p><p>Pinnock and Thomas were set to stand trial next week in the murder of Crooks, who was killed after an argument about the drug operation the three were involved in, court records show.</p><p>Included with the plea agreement was a statement from Pinnock detailing his involvement with the shooting. Here are some highlights from that statement:</p><p>On Sept. 1, 2016, Thomas said after an argument that he was &#8220;going to kill&#8221; Crooks.</p><p>Based on statements from other witnesses, the argument was centered around a cell phone running out of minutes. The men used the phone to sell drugs.</p><p>Crooks went to a residence at 70 N. Sherman St. to get guns and money from Thomas. When Crooks arrived, Pinnock said Thomas pulled a gun on him, saying &#8220;I don&#8217;t work for you.&#8221;</p><p>Crooks, who was unarmed at the time, began to struggle with Thomas to defend himself. During the struggle, Thomas fired a shot. The magazine fell out of the gun, and the two fell to the floor struggling.</p><p>Pinnock said he armed himself with a firearm at this point, firing a shot at Crooks. Pinnock said he both intended to kill Crooks and protect Thomas. He believed he hit Crooks with at least one shot.</p><p>Thomas attempted to fire a round into Crooks&#8217; head, but his gun wouldn&#8217;t fire. Crooks fled the residence and was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. He later died there as a result of gunshot wounds to his head and chest.</p><p>Pinnock was arrested by U.S. Marshals about three months after the homicide. Pinnock spent that time on the run, and he was eventually located in Sunrise, Fla.</p><p>Court records show the trial against Thomas will now begin Jan. 8, or the week before Pinnock&#8217;s sentencing.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Keanu Pinnock, 20, Wilkes-Barre, is shown at a prior court appearance. He agreed to plead guilty Thursday to third-degree homicide for a September 2016 shooting. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_web1_TTL020417Keanu-Pinnock1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Keanu Pinnock, 20, Wilkes-Barre, is shown at a prior court appearance. He agreed to plead guilty Thursday to third-degree homicide for a September 2016 shooting. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WB man pleads guilty to homicide in deal to testify against co-defendant