A shoplifter who shot and killed a sailor moonighting as a security guard at an East County store pleaded guilty Friday to a series of attacks.
Andrew Nicholas Griffith, 29, was arrested July 21, 2007, the day he shot and killed Petty Officer 1st Class David C. Busby, a 34-year-old father. Griffith also assaulted another Kmart employee during the incident.
Griffith had $86 worth of goods in a Kmart bag when he walked out of the store in Ramona and was confronted. He then pulled out a 9 mm Browning handgun and fired three times. Good Samaritans held Griffith at the scene until deputies arrived.
Busby, a 32-year-old native of a small town in rural Kansas, had served in the Navy for several years and was a gunner's mate and member of Precommissioning Unit Independence.
On Friday, Griffith also pleaded guilty to a sword attack a month earlier.
Griffith is due back in court April 10 for sentencing.
