Man pleads guilty in fatal shooting of Orange detective

The man accused of fatally shooting an Orange police officer in 2006 pleaded guilty to the crime Thursday, and his stay in prison will soon be significantly lengthened. "I shot a police officer," said

News 12 Staff

•

Jan 4, 2008, 12:33 AM

•

Updated 6,231 days ago

The man accused of fatally shooting an Orange police officer in 2006 pleaded guilty to the crime Thursday, and his stay in prison will soon be significantly lengthened.

"I shot a police officer," said Raynard Brown in his confession. Brown, 20, admitted as part of a plea deal to firing a shotgun blast that struck down Detective Kieran Shields.

Brown said Shields was killed in the crossfire of a gunfight with another man. In his statement, Brown said he was hiding from the other gunman when he saw a weapon coming toward him and fired.

Shields was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of his death, but died from shotgun wounds to the neck. He was a second-generation cop who colleagues said will be missed.

Brown is currently serving a 14-year sentence for an unrelated robbery. His sentencing for Shields' death will take place in February, but the plea deal ensures Brown will not serve more than 40 years.

AP wires contributed to this article.

Related information: Alleged killer enters not guilty plea in cop's death