NATCHEZ &045;&045; Jimmy Newton Pruitt III pled guilty to manslaughter Friday morning in the November 2003 death of Christopher Bourdin.

Pruitt, 20, was arrested shortly after the shooting on a charge of murder and was later indicted on the same charge.

The manslaughter plea approved by the District Attorney’s office and accepted by Pruitt carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and a minimum of one year or a $500 fine.

Sentencing will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 30.

Pruitt said he shot Bourdin, 21, on Nov. 18, 2003.

&uot;I was handling a handgun,&uot; Pruitt told Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders. &uot;It discharged and the bullet struck Chris in the head.&uot;

The two men were acquaintances and often hung out with others at the location of the shooting on U.S. 61 North.

Tearful friends and family of Bourdin and Pruitt filled the courtroom Friday. Bourdin’s family carried a teddy bear and framed photos of their loved one.

Sanders gave the families a chance to speak Friday, but District Attorney Ronnie Harper said the family would prefer to speak at the sentencing hearing.

Sanders asked for pre-sentencing investigative reports from the Department of Corrections and the District Attorney. She also said she would receive letters from friends and family on either side arguing for a strict or lenient sentence and allow testimony at the sentencing.

&uot;I don’t want to make a rash decision,&uot; Sanders said.

&uot;The court already feels like you got a big break,&uot; she said to Pruitt.