I disagree with this. I think if you're 17, you're old enough to understand and appreciate the difference between right and wrong. And murdering another person in cold blood execution style is clearly wrong.
I also believe that when you hang out with criminal types, it rubs off on you. Unfortunately, it is true that "birds of the same feather flock together". While the three boys can't be guilty simply by the mere fact of association, the fact that all three were PHYSICALLY caught on video and seen to have shot an innocent young man in the back means they are all complicit in the murder. Plus, none of them stepped forward to confess the crime until they were caught by police. That in a cinch nails it for me that they knew what they did was wrong, that they were cruel and held a depraved indifference to human life, and thought they could get away with it scot-free. I pray that they are all found guilty and throw them all in the slammer for the rest of their lives so that their prison sentence may act as a deterrent for other violent teens.
I think Jones tipped his hand when, upon learning that he could still face a lengthy sentence after having told LE what happened, he broke down and said something like "but I didn't pull the trigger." Showing his belief that participating in the murder but not being the actual shooter should somehow absolve him. jmo