Bernard Grucza pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in State Supreme Court Monday. The former loss prevention officer took a plea deal after killing Larry Wells at the Toys R Us location in Hamburg last June.
Grucza, 38, was arrested and charged in October with second degree murder, after DNA reportedly from a Florida Gators baseball hat left at the scene linked him to the stabbing of the 35-year-old Wells.
Grucza was reportedly cooperative with the Hamburg police during the investigation. Shortly after the stabbing, he was seen on camera outside the store consoling co-workers.
Grucza faces 25 years-to-life in prison. He will be sentenced on May 19.