The alleged trigger man in a 2009 shooting that left aBrookhaven man dead pleaded guilty to murder Monday, closing thedoor on a 19-month-old homicide case, authorities said.

District Attorney Dee Bates said Marvin Lamar Truss, 21, of 779Saints Trail, pleaded guilty to murder and conspiracy to commitarmed robbery in the shooting death of Heuck’s Retreat’s JamesBraswell, 21, in May of last year. Truss’ guilty plea comes afterseeing two accomplices plead guilty to similar charges over thelast two weeks and about one month before his trial was scheduledto begin.

“He knew they were going to testify against him. That swayed hisopinion,” Bates said. “It’s kind of like a domino effect. You startwith the least culpable.”

Co-defendants Latonio Terrell Hamilton, 19, of 1067 Union St., andTyQwan L. Berry, 21, of 100 Fred Walley Drive, pleaded guilty tomanslaughter and conspiracy to commit capital murder in thepreceding weeks.

All three men will appear before for sentencing on Jan. 10.Hamilton and Berry face maximum charges of 40 years each. Trussfaces life in prison.

According to the testimony of witnesses and defendants, it wasTruss who fired the shot that killed Braswell during a plannedrobbery on May 20, 2009.

Braswell and two female friends approached Berry, Hamilton andTruss that afternoon on Jennifer Street to purchase marijuana,confirmed the deal and went back to a convenience store to round upthe necessary cash. While Braswell was gone, the trio agreed to robhim when he returned, Bates said.

“When they drove back up trying to purchase marijuana, Truss andBerry both pulled guns out,” Bates said. “Braswell tried to flee.Berry and Truss fired rounds.”

Bates said a .25 caliber round went through the seat of Braswell’svehicle, penetrated his back and lodged in his heart. He drove onfarther before beginning to collapse in the seat. One of thefemales in the vehicle took the wheel and drove Braswell to King’sDaughters Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“Truss was known to carry a .25, and witnesses said he had the .25that day,” Bates said. “He fired the fatal shot.”

Bates said Hamilton was the first of the three defendants to begincooperating with police, laying out a concise story.

“By his own admission, he knew they were going to commit an armedrobbery, and that’s what makes him guilty,” Bates said. “Hecontinued along with the plan, even though he didn’t physicallyparticipate.”