CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The teen suspect accused of killing a classmate at Butler High School late last year has pleaded guilty. 

Previously reported:

Jatwan Cuffie appeared in court Thursday. He is accused of shooting and killing 16-year-old Bobby McKeithen back in October 2018. Cuffie, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, was initially charged with first-degree murder as an adult, but the charges were downgraded to second-degree murder. The charge he has plead guilty to is voluntary manslaughter. He'll spend 78-108 months behind bars and will receive credit for time served. 

Previously, police say that the shooting happened after a fight in the main hallway of the school. One of the suspect's attorneys also stated earlier that his client had been the target of threats. Police said Cuffie surrendered to a teacher shortly after the shooting.

The victim's family addressed Cuffie in court Thursday, saying their lives were forever changed with the death of their son. They also said that tragedies like this have sadly become the new normal, with people resorting to violence to solve their problems. 

McKeithen's father said that no punishment will bring his son back to him.  "Whether it's 78 months, 210 months, 500 months, it still ain't going to bring my son back. Death is death. I don't care what kind of sentence you give him, you could've gave him the electric chair. My son still ain't coming back to life after that," said Bobby McKeithen Sr. 

Cuffie's lawyer said that he was sorry for his actions and regrets pulling the trigger that day. We spoke to both Cuffie's family and his lawyer after court and they agree the violence destroyed both families that day. 

"This isn't a who-done-it case. It's on video. It's clear that Bobby strikes Jatwan first, but it's also clear that Jatwan took out a gun and used a firearm," said Michael Green. 

"I have a lot of sympathy for the family. The mother, the father, the brothers and sisters. Because Jatwan had them as well," said Ebony Miller.