DOWAGIAC — A man accused of shooting an AK-47 into a crowd, killing one, last summer has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Rolandis Russell, 25, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty at 11 a.m. Tuesday to second-degree murder with a binding minimum sentence of 43 years in prison.

At his plea, Russell admitted leaving a local Dowagiac establishment in the early morning hours of July 29, 2018, walking to his SUV and taking out a loaded AK-47 rifle. He also acknowledged shooting 13 times at an individual he had been verbally sparring with and inadvertently hitting and killing a bystander, Fabian Wesaw, of Dowagiac. The defendant also admitted that Wesaw died from the gunshot injuries he had inflicted upon him.

The plea included the dismissal of the original first-degree murder count as well as charges of assault with intent to murder, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, and four felony firearm counts.

Under Michigan’s Truth in Sentencing Law, the defendant will not be eligible for parole consideration until he has served 43 years in prison.

“This plea ensures that the defendant pays an extremely serious penalty for the taking of a human life.  The Wesaw family is comforted that justice is being done,” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz.

Sentencing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25 in front of Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman.