The retrial of a Columbia man previously convicted of first-degree murder came to an abrupt end on Monday when the man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder at Howard County Circuit Court.

The sixth day of the retrial was set to get underway, when prosecutors and the defense attorney announced that a plea agreement had been reached.

That was when Antajuan Lawntee Wilson, 23, pleaded guilty to the 2008 Wilde Lake murder he was previously convicted of in December of 2008, according to Wayne Kirwan, spokesperson for the Howard County state's attorney's office.

The retrial had been ordered by the Maryland Court of Appeals after it was determined the jury in Wilson's 2008 trial had not been properly advised.

After pleading guilty, Wilson was sentenced to life in prison with all but 70 years suspended by Judge William V. Tucker, according to Kirwan.

Tucker called the murder "completely senseless," said Kirwan.

Wilson shot and killed Bryan Adams Jr., who was 19 at the time, after a brief altercation at the Crown Gas Station near the Wilde Lake Lake Village Center.

Adams was with two friends who had exchanged looks and comments with Wilson outside the gas station, according to the statement of facts. Wilson then walked away, returned to his apartment, grabbed a gun, and less than 13 minutes later, shot and killed Adams as he was leaving from the gas station, according to assistant state's attorney Doug Nelsen.

Adams' mother, Stacy Mangana addressed the court on Monday, according to Kirwan.

"Everyone says it gets better, for me it's not getting better," said Mangana.

Wilson also addressed the court, said Kirwan, telling the family, "I apologize for not showing enough regret; I hope one day you can forgive me."

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