news-record.com

GREENSBORO — One of four people charged in the November 2006 killing of a Greensboro convenience store clerk pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder.

Arthur Lecose Burton III, 21, of Elon will spend the next 21 to 23 years in state prison for his role in the robbery and fatal shooting of 50-year-old Satwinder Singh at the Aman Mini Mart at 2303 N. Church St.

Police say Burton and two other men entered the store wearing masks and armed with a shotgun and two handguns.

They stole $500 in cash, and one of the men opened fire on Singh, who later died at Moses Cone Hospital. The shooting was witnessed by his 14-year-old son.

As part of the plea made in Guilford County Superior Court, prosecutors agreed to reduce one of Burton’s charges from first-degree murder to second-degree murder.

Had he been convicted of first-degree murder, he could have faced the death penalty.

Burton also pleaded guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, obtaining property by false pretense and simple assault.

Cases are still pending against two other men charged in the shooting. Raytheon Williams, 20 — who prosecutors believe shot Singh — and Shawn Michael McIlvan, 18, are charged with robbery and first-degree murder. Similar charges are pending against Burton’s girlfriend, Brittany Nicole Price, who prosecutors say was the getaway driver.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com