A second co-defendant charged in connection with the fatal 2023 shooting of Ayanna Morgan at the apartment complex where she lived has pleaded guilty.

Malcolm Jones, 32, pleaded guilty on Monday in Warren Circuit Court to a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree assault for his actions in the July 23, 2023, incident in the parking lot of The Muse, an apartment complex on Morgantown Road.

Morgan, 21, was fatally shot while she and Malik Jones, Malcolm’s twin brother, struggled with one another to take control of Morgan’s handgun.

Through prior courtroom testimony, it emerged that Morgan had walked downstairs from the balcony outside her apartment to confront Malik Jones after he had said something to her.

After a physical confrontation Morgan chased Malik Jones while carrying her handgun until Jones retreated into the vehicle in which he rode to the complex.

The pair later struggled over the gun, during which it discharged, leading to Morgan’s death.

Malcolm Jones acknowledged in court that he punched and kicked Morgan during the confrontation.

The plea agreement Malcolm Jones reached with prosecutors saw a count of complicity to murder amended down to fourth-degree assault, and the dismissal of a count of tampering with physical evidence against Jones.

Had the case gone to trial, Jones faced a punishment of 20-50 years in prison or life behind bars if he had been convicted as charged.

Malik Jones previously pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence, accepting a 15-year prison sentence.

The fourth-degree assault charge to which Malcolm Jones pleaded guilty carries a 12-month sentence, but the plea agreement he reached with prosecutors resolves a number of other cases against him that are unrelated to the homicide.

Malcolm Jones also pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (second offense), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and first-degree bail jumping.

Altogether, Malcolm Jones faces a total sentence of nine years in prison for all the charges to which he admitted guilt.

Jones will return to court on Jan. 27 to be sentenced by Warren Circuit Judge John Grise.