AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - The 26-year-old man accused of shooting and killing a woman outside an Akron Dollar Tree in 2023 pleaded guilty on Thursday.

PREVIOUS: Akron police make arrest in July murder

Jontae Watkins, 26, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder with a three-year firearm specification in connection with the fatal shooting of Ernestine Stallings.

On July 3, 2023, Watkins shot and killed Stallings as she and her girlfriend were loading birthday balloons into their car outside the Dollar Tree at 2246 West Market Street.

Akron Police said that Watkins, armed with a rifle, approached Stallings from behind and fired multiple shots.

Stallings was taken to the Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where she was later pronounced dead.

In September 2023, detectives identified Watkins as a pers

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