Travis Doniel Wesley, 31, was set to go on trial this week for the 2013 murder of Lequinton Lomax, but he changed his plea Monday.

Wesley originally pled not guilty, but as a jury was about to be struck for trial, he changed his mind and entered a guilty plea.

“We were fixing to strike the jury when he changed his plea from not guilty to pleading guilty to manslaughter,” said Marengo County District Attorney Greg Griggers.

The Demopolis resident pled guilty to manslaughter, which was reduced from the murder charge he was originally given. Wesley also accepted a 22-year prison sentence.

The shooting death of Lomax was the first murder in Demopolis since 2008 and the last since it happened in October 2013, according to Greg Griggers.

“Thankfully and fortunately for the citizens of Demopolis, that was last homicide we’ve had in Demopolis,” Griggers said.

The shooting happened after a heated argument between Wesley, Lomax, two of Lomax’s sisters and Lomax’s cousin, who had a child with Wesley.

The argument started the afternoon of Oct. 26, 2013, about some clothing Wesley had purchased for child.

“They kept [the argument] going, posting stuff on Facebook and telephone calls went back and forth. That went on the whole afternoon and early part of the night,” Griggers said.

According to Griggers, Wesley eventually went to Lomax’s residence armed with a handgun.

“Once he got there the argument got worse and turned into a physical confrontation,” Griggers said. “In the end result, Travis shot Lequinton Lomax four times.”

Wesley turned himself into law enforcement five days after the shooting on October 31, 2013.

Griggers wanted to thank Lomax’s family for assisting his office with their eyewitness accounts.

“Most of my witnesses were family members, and it is tough when they are having to relive it,” Griggers said. “Condolences to the Lomax family, and I thank them for their cooperation. I hated having to question them in preparation for the trial. I knew it was something they didn’t really want to relive and talk about, but it was necessary.”