ROCHESTER - A 19-year-old was found not guilty of murder and weapons charges Saturday in an alleged murder-for-hire plot that authorities say he once confessed to.

Jurors found Joshua G. Rivera, of Rochester, not guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree weapon possession and reckless endangerment. He was charged with killing Sinelda Patterson, 19, on a city street Nov. 8.

Patterson was leaning into the window of a parked Cadillac outside a liquor store, talking with a friend in the front passenger seat, when another car pulled up and a gunman opened fire with a revolver.

In a confession, which he later recanted, Rivera said a man gave him $6,000 to kill Patterson in retaliation for another murder. Police were unable to find evidence that claim was true.

Rivera testified Thursday he was depressed and not taking his medications when he falsely confessed. He confessed in hopes of receiving the death penalty, he said.