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Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct sentencing information. Johnson was sentenced to 10 years in prison with credit for time served. The remainder of the sentence will be served on post-release supervision. Johnson was released from custody.

NATCHEZ — After a tiring couple of days, attorneys involved in the Jalin Johnson murder trial agreed Friday afternoon to a plea deal.

Johnson will serve a 10-year sentence for conspiracy to commit murder with credit for time served, said Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton. After time served, the remainder of the sentence will be on post-release supervision.

“It has been a long and very frustrating two days. I can accept any negative connotations that come with the outcome; however, I will say my heart hurts for the Scottie Rodgers family,” Cotton said. “I will be clear that they have been with us from day one, which has been over a year now, and they were with us today in the decision made to plead this charge.”

Johnson was accused in the Oct. 4, 2019, shooting death of Scottie Rodgers. Johnson faced charges of first-degree homicide, conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault against another person in the case.

Johnson, who was 17 at the time, was arrested on Oct. 12, 2019, along with Jeremiyah Clark, then 18, who was also charged with first-degree murder in the case.

A third man, Zakya Jones, 18, was charged with accessory before the fact of murder. The cases are being tried individually.

The shooting occurred near Fraser Street in Natchez, according to reports at the time. Two victims drove themselves to Merit Health Natchez, arriving at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 4. A female victim was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for her injuries. Rogers was pronounced dead there.

Walter Armstrong, who was the Natchez police chief at the time, said drugs played a role in the crime.

Cotton said Natchez Police Commander Jerry Ford also agreed with the plea agreement, based on the options available to the prosecution.

It took an entire day — until 5:30 p.m. on Thursday — to seat a jury in the case.

“The circuit clerk subpoenaed approximately 1,000 potential jurors and only around 200 showed up. Of those 200, we struck almost 70 for cause prior to the defense’s even having the opportunity to conduct their voir dire,” Cotton said. “Today, we found ourselves having to motion the Court to issue warrants for witnesses who received subpoenas and refused to appear. This case is from 2019 and sadly, we believe that investigatively and from an evidentiary standpoint, we have received everything we were going to get from this case.”

In November 2024, Cotton dismissed the indictments against Clark and Johnson. At the time, he said, “When I got the Scottie Rodgers case and reviewed it, it was evident that there are people involved who have not been charged, people who had more involvement than some who were charged.”

Cotton later reindicted Johnson.

The trial began Friday morning and was expected to last through the weekend.