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The Bedford man accused of killing another after an argument April 24, 2021, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree murder, his attorney Dan Kiss said.
Tico Franklin, now 40, faced the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of 62-year-old Brian Hunter.
According to online court documents, Franklin was scheduled for a call of the list proceeding in Bedford County Court Friday, as the case proceeded toward trial. The county District Attorney's Office filed a notice seeking the death penalty in September 2021.
The shooting took place along the Mile Level in Snake Spring Township about 1:57 p.m. April 24, 2021, after Franklin argued with the victim's daughter and was told to leave, according to police reports.
Franklin is accused of shooting Hunter multiple times before taking a vehicle and fleeing the scene. The vehicle was found along I-70 in Maryland later that day, and Franklin was located and arrested in Baltimore, Md.
According to court documents, Franklin was charged with criminal homicide, murder of the first degree, murder of the third degree, aggravated assault-attempts to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon, robbery of a motor vehicle and three counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Franklin has been incarcerated in the Bedford County Correctional Facility since his arrest.
Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. May 26 before President Judge Travis W. Livengood at the Bedford County Courthouse. The plea agreement calls for Franklin to receive a 30- to 60-year sentence.