Just as his case was about to go to trial, a 19-year-old Minneapolis man pleaded guilty this week in last spring's shooting death of another 19-year-old man, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Wednesday.

Eugene Watkins agreed to plead guilty Tuesday and is expected to be sentenced to 30 years in prison at a March 7 hearing. He was charged with intentional second-degree murder in the death of Jason Adams during a botched drug deal.

According to the criminal complaint, just before 3:30 p.m. on May 6, Watkins went to an apartment in the 2100 block of 3rd Avenue S. with two other men to buy marijuana from Adams. Once inside the apartment, Watkins pulled a gun and told one of Adams' friends to hand over all of the drugs.

Adams also pulled out a gun and the two men began shooting at each other, the complaint says. Watkins was wounded in the exchange and arrested later at the hospital.

Adams was taken by ambulance to the hospital and died a short time later.

STAFF REPORT