PITTSFIELD, Mass. – A 19-year-old Pittsfield man was sentenced to life in prison after admitting he shot a man to death behind a local convenience store.

Quasim Hastings pleaded guilty Friday in Berkshire Superior Court to second degree murder in the April 2003 death of David Killbary, 20, of Pittsfield. He’ll be eligible for parole in 15 years.

Hastings shot Killbary once in the chest after he and his alleged accomplice, Milton Gasson Jr., had a confrontation with Killbary at the A-Mart store on North Street.

At the time of the shooting, Killbary had been out of prison for about a week after serving two years for crack cocaine distribution.

At Killbary’s sentencing, family members wept as District Attorney David Capeless read a victim impact statements which spoke of regret about the short time family members had with Killbary after his release from prison.

“We know that David is in a better place where there is no pain, but all we see is a hole in the pictures, because he is not here,” Capeless said, reading from the statement.

Gasson, who is also charged with murder, has said he didn’t know Hastings was going to shoot Killbary.

AP-ES-03-13-04 1520EST