CROWN POINT | Robert Stottlemire pleaded guilty Friday to fatally shooting Daniel Wright, who thought he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Wright, 20, of Hobart, died of a single bullet wound to the chest on Feb. 10, 2005.

Two others who were with Stottlemire -- Brock Bieker, 21, and Michael Searle, 20, both of Hobart -- are accused of trying to cover up what happened by taking Wright to the hospital and telling personnel Wright was shot in Gary.

Stottlemire, 23, of Lake Station, faces a maximum prison sentence of six years when sentenced July 27 by Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray.

Bieker is scheduled to submit a plea May 24 for his role in the shooting.

Searle pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal and false informing and was sentenced in December 2005 to 3 1/2 years in prison.