More than 15 years after a fatal shotgun blast brought down a rival gang member who was trying to run away in a Minneapolis alley, a Bloomington man has admitted to pulling the trigger.

William D. Chaboyea, 35, pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court on Mon-day, the day his trial was to begin on charges of intentional second-degree murder in the May 1996 killing of Michael Baldeagle. Dropped was a charge of second-degree murder for the benefit of a gang.

The plea agreement calls for a prison sentence of 20 years.

According to criminal complaint: Numerous people who were in the alley in southeast Minneapolis the night of the shooting told police that Chaboyea was the killer. Another person who was not in the alley told police that Chaboyea admitted to the shooting and talked about it at times.

Witnesses told police that their group, members of the Native Mob criminal gang, were walking to a party when Baldeagle, a member the rival Gangster Disciples, walked up and flashed a gang sign.

An argument ensued, and Chaboyea pulled out a shotgun. The gun at first jammed, but a second shot hit Baldeagle.

PAUL WALSH