A Shreveport man, arrested two years ago after he tried to kill a man during a botched robbery at a convenience store in Allendale, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder in Caddo District Court Thursday.

The admission came just moments after Ladarius Desmond Williams, 23,  went on trial before Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. A 12-person jury, with one alternate, had been selected to hear the case but opening statements had not yet begun when Williams admitted to the crime.

He said he tried to kill Eddie George during an attempted armed robbery at the Fil-a-Sac convenience store in the 300 block of Pierre Avenue in Allendale on June 3, 2014. As George was leaving the store and about to enter his vehicle, Williams attacked him from behind, striking him in the head with a pistol and demanding the victim’s money. Williams chased George around the parking lot, shooting at him multiple times. In all, George suffered eight gunshot wounds.

Williams will be sentenced Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. He faces up to 50 years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.

Prosecutors were assistant district attorneys Holly McGinness and Ross Owen. Williams’ defense team was Michael Enright and Michelle AndrePont, both public defenders.