A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a convenience store clerk during an early morning robbery in Ballard this summer.

According to court documents, Elijah Hall, 17, walked into the Pit Stop Express on 15th Ave NW and NE 60th Street on July 26th, just before 6:30 a.m..Hall walked behind the unoccupied counter and tried to take money out of the cash register. Clerk Manish Melwani walked out of a back room and confronted Hall, who fired two shots from a .38 revolver and fled.

Police released surveillance footage of the incident two days after the robbery —showing Hall wearing sunglasses, a hat, and a bandanna—and later received a tip from a Ballard resident who'd found similar clothing dumped in his yard several blocks from the crime scene.

When police arrived at the man's home to collect the evidence, they saw hall standing with a young woman across the street from the house, watching detectives. Police talked to Hall and noticed that he looked similar to the person seen in surveillance footage.

One day later, police identified Hall as the shooter and served a warrant on his home, five blocks from the crime scene. Officers found clothing and ammunition matching that used in the robbery.

Police interviewed Hall who, records say, admitted to shooting Melwani, and told detectives he only intended to shoot him in the leg. Hall told police he committed the robbery because he was "broke and needed money."

Hall, who was tried as an adult, pleaded guilty earlier today. He could face 25 years in jail. His sentencing is scheduled for December 11th.