A 14-year-old Saskatoon boy charged with shooting and killing his 15-year-old friend has been sentenced to three years secure custody, the maximum penalty under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The teen appeared in Saskatoon's provincial court Thursday morning for sentencing.

He had pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death.

The incident took place back in September 2015 in a house on the 300 block of Avenue Q S.

The scene of a shooting on Avenue Q S. in Saskatoon. (Victoria Dinh/CBC) The accused's mother told CBC News the boys had been best friends, and had smuggled the guns into her house to protect themselves.

Police say the gun was stolen from a car in northwest Saskatoon on Sept. 5.

The accused cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The youth has already served 224 days in remand. He will serve just over 19 months in secure custody and nearly 10 months under supervision.

'The court cannot restore a life.'

It proved a frustrating morning in court for almost everyone involved, from the judge to victim Dustin Ahenakew's family.

"The court cannot restore a life. The law cannot make our communities safer," said Judge Sanjeev Anand.

He also questioned whether the teen is taking any real responsibility for his actions, describing the pre-sentence report as "depressing."

Ahenakew's mother, Chastity Barthel, emotionally listed her concerns with the youth criminal justice system outside court.

"With the sentencing, with being more proactive, having more community programs and services out there for our youth that are in trouble and the ones that seem to fall through the cracks — there just isn't enough stuff," she said.

"Kids are falling through the cracks and there is strong gang activity here in Saskatoon."