Murder defendant enters guilty plea

One of three defendants charged with murder in a 2018 shooting has entered a guilty plea.

Kayla Chaney pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Friday in 45th Circuit Court in Centreville. Chaney admitted to pulling the trigger that killed Kevin Johnson Nov. 18 in Flowerfield Township.

Chaney and co-defendants Tyler McNeil and Theron Hunt were charged with open murder and armed robbery. Chaney and McNeil each waived a hearing. As part of the plea agreement, Chaney will testify against McNeil and Hunt.

She is scheduled to be sentenced May 31.

At a preliminary hearing in January, Hunt, of Dowagiac, was bound over on two counts armed robbery, one count open murder, one count of false imprisonment, one count second- degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Authorities say a failed drug deal led to the shooting death of Johnson, a truck driver from Kentucky.