An Akron man pleaded guilty to murder charges stemming from an incident last November in Summit County Common Pleas Court Tuesday.

24-year-old Phillip Pope of Akron was sentenced to life in prison in Judge Tammy O'Brien's courtroom according to prosecutors. He will be eligible for parole in 2031.

On November 28 2012, just before 10 p.m., Pope shot 21-year old Will Lamon while in a car near the intersection of Buckingham Street and Fairbanks Place.

Lamon later died at Akron General Hospital. 

Prosecutors say Pope’s friend, Christopher Byrd, was charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing official business after being caught trying to dispose of the gun Pope used in Lamon’s murder.

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Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Phillip Pope, 24, of Ericsson Avenue in Akron, pleaded guilty today to Murder, a special felony with a gun specification. Judge Tammy O’Brien immediately sentenced Pope to life in prison.

On the evening of November 28, 21-year-old Will Lamon was driving down Fairbanks Place with his girlfriend and another friend. As they turned onto Buckingham Street, Pope jumped out of the bushes and started firing a gun at the driver’s side of the car. Lamon was shot and died at Akron General Hospital. The girlfriend recognized the shooter as Pope, her ex-boyfriend. Pope’s friend, Christopher Byrd, was charged with Tampering with Evidence and Obstructing Official Business after being caught trying to dispose of the gun Pope used in Lamon’s murder.

Pope will be eligible for parole in 2031.