A 30-year-old Mulberry Grove man pleaded guilty Thursday in Marion County Court to a reduced murder charge, just days before he was scheduled to go to trial for shooting a man to death in the parking lot of a Centralia bar.

Demetrice Lockett was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was scheduled to go on trial Monday for the 2015 Christmas morning shooting death of 26-year-old Leroy Roberson of Mt. Vernon.

Lockett has been held in the Marion County jail since his 2015 arrest on two counts First Degree murder, with bail set at $1 million.

He was accused of intervening in a fight between Roberson and another man in the parking lot of Party Liquor by allegedly punching and kicking the other man. Roberson then reportedly pushed Lockett away and Lockett drew a handgun and shot Roberson in the back.

One count alleged Lockett’s actions were committed with the intent to kill or injure and the other count alleged his actions were committed knowing there was a strong probability his actions would kill or injure.

The second count was amended and reduced to a Class 1 felony charge of Second Degree murder and at the time of the killing, Lockett believed the killing would have been lawfully justified but the belief was unreasonable.

The First Degree murder charge was dismissed in exchange for Lockett’s guilty plea to Second Degree murder. He will be given day-for-day credit and for time served since his December 25, 2015, arrest. He will have to serve 2-years mandatory supervised release following the completion of his prison term.