Guilty Plea in Binghamton After-Hours Club Killing

A Binghamton man has admitted killing a person at an after-hours club on the city's West Side.

Prosecutors say 27-year-old Jihad Ray pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree manslaughter. He's expected to be sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Investigators had said they believed Ray was responsible for the "execution-style killing" of 22-year-old Brandon Hernandez of Binghamton. Police said Hernandez was shot repeatedly in the head at close range.

The shooting happened around 5 a.m. on April 22 outside an after-hours club at Orton Avenue and Main Street.

The illegal business had been charging admission and selling alcohol for months before Hernandez was killed.

Police chief Joseph Zikuski has said officers were aware of the club for about three months before the shooting.

Neighbors had complained about the operation but it wasn't shut down until after the homicide occurred.

A Broome County grand jury in May indicted Ray on counts of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal use of a firearm.

Sentencing has been scheduled for December 14.

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