A second suspect has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in the 2020 killing of 8-year-old Royta Giles during a shooting inside the Riverchase Galleria.

King Gary Williams, 23, and two others were initially charged with capital murder in Royta’s death and the wounding of three innocent bystanders also caught in the crossfire that day.

Williams pleaded guilty to reckless murder in Royta’s slaying, and to three counts of second-degree assault for shooting victims Walter Lee Rashad Hudson, Chateria Brant and 11-year-old Senia Escobar Fajardo.

He apologized to Royta’s mother, Jesslyn Layfield.

“I’m extremely sorry for what happened that day,’’ Williams said before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Shanta Craig Owens. “I did not intend to hurt nobody.”

“All this time I didn’t have a voice,’’ Williams said. “I sincerely apologize.”

As per the plea agreement, the judge sentenced Williams to 25 years on the reckless murder conviction and 10 years with two to serve on each of the assault convictions.

The sentences will be served concurrently, and Williams will get jail credit for the more than four years he has already served in the Jefferson County Jail.

Following his plea, King was allowed to visit privately with his many family members who attended Tuesday’s hearing, some of them crying softly.

“King Williams decided to accept the state’s offer of a lesser charge of reckless and not intentional murder,’’ his attorney, John Lentine said. “I understand and respect his decision.”

“I am relieved he is no long facing the death penalty or life without parole and will one day be back with his family,’’ Lentine said. “I am also glad he was able to express his condolences to Royte Giles’ mother which has wanted to do for these last four years.”

Layfield sat quietly on the back row of the courtroom for Williams’ plea.

“I’m just glad that it’s over with and I can get some closure,’’ Layfield said.

Asked about his apology, Layfield said, “If it was sincere, I receive it. At that point, I’m just making sure I get the closure I need so I can move forward and be a parent.”

Montez Moses Miracle Coleman, 26, also initially charged with capital murder, pleaded guilty to reckless murder and three counts of second-degree assault In June. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Demetrius Jackson, 23, is set to go on trial in January.

The cases are being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Shawn Allen, Julie McMakin and Elise Driskell.

Read full coverage of the case here

On July 3, 2020, Royta, his mother and stepfather, and younger sisters Trinity and Marlee, were waiting to go into the Children’s Place. Because of COVID, stores at the time had restrictions on how many customers could be allowed in.

Hoover police said a dispute that started possibly because of a previous “beef” over rap lyrics erupted near the food court. It escalated to gunfire, and at least 12 rounds were fired in just four seconds.

When it was over, Royta lay motionless on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at Children’s of Alabama two hours and 17 minutes later.

The three other shoppers were injured but survived.

The suspects previously all claimed each fired in self-defense – from each other.

Testimony in previous hearings showed one of the defendants fired his AR-15 style pistol through a book bag.

The gun jammed after the first round, but he had about 75 rounds of ammunition in the backpack – nearly 50 rounds were in two gun magazines and 24 were stuffed in a sock. Two other defendants, according to witnesses, raised their shirts to show they, too, had weapons shortly before the gunfight commenced.

Though all parties agreed no one went to the mall that day with the intent to kill, the resulting carnage happened because of their “willingness and spoken or unspoken agreement to get in this gunfight,” Allen has previously said.

When engaged in mutual combat, he said, all parties are criminally liable in the death and injuries that happened that day.

Royta was born in Houston, but his family later moved to the Birmingham area.

At the time of his death, he had just finished the second grade at Jonesboro Elementary School in Bessemer, where he was an honor roll student and adored by his teachers and school administrators.

He loved to play video games and aspired to be a musical artist.

“Music was his treasure and was an aspiring rap artist,” his obituary read. “As with any entertainer, his royal highness had to be dressed for the occasion. Fashion was his passion. He excelled as a gamer, entertainer, fashionista, and he was a master artist. He prized his drawings and sketches.”

Most of all, Royta loved spending time with his family. “He found special joy in being the ultimate big brother watching over his little sisters,” teaching them to jump over the sofa, jump off the table and pillow fight. He was looking forward to third grade and “more often than not, Royta was accompanied by his dearest friend, his ‘Prayer Bear.’”

Royta’s mom previously told AL.com her slain son is never far from her thoughts and her heart. “I try not to worry about tomorrow and lean more toward God and accepting what happened,” Layfield said. “He will never be forgotten.”