Man charged in fatal Ohio drive-by shooting pleads guilty

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A 25-year-old man charged with two counts of aggravated murder in a drive-by shooting in southwestern Ohio has pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors say Zachary Harris entered his plea Monday shortly before jury selection was scheduled to start. Harris would’ve faced the death penalty if he was convicted at trial.

Harris’ attorney says the man has taken responsibility for the deaths of Todd Berus and Orlando Gilbert, both 25 years old.

Harris was one of three men charged in the August 2016 shooting in Hamilton. Prosecutors say the shooting was part of a murder-for-hire plot in retaliation for a deadly shooting at Doubles Bar the month before.

One man was killed and seven others were wounded in the bar shooting.