Norris Greenhouse, Jr. has taken a last-minute plea deal offered by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office just days before jury selection for his trial was set to begin.

Greenhouse, Jr. faced a second-degree murder charge and attempted second-degree murder charge for the November 2015 shooting death of Jeremy Mardis, 6, and the shooting of his father, Chris Few. Greenhouse, Jr. was a Ward 2 deputy city marshal.

On Friday morning at 11 a.m., Greenhouse, Jr. was joined by his attorney, George Higgins, to have a few motions heard in court. Prosecutors for the AG’s Office, John Sinquefield and Matt Derbes, were on hand as well.

In what was essentially an 11th hour decision, Greenhouse, Jr. chose to accept a deal offered by the state. He pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and malfeasance in office. He will receive a sentence of 5 years for the negligent homicide charge, 2 years of which must be served without probation or parole. He will receive a consecutive sentence of 2 1/2 years for malfeasance in office.

He will be formally sentenced next Wednesday.

Sinquefield explained why this decision was made on Friday, instead of Monday.

"We had a jury coming, obviously Monday," he said. "We want to resolve this case so the jurors wouldn't have to be called out away from families and jobs."

"Given the totality of the circumstances, that he’s a police officer with no criminal record, I think that justice is done in this case and I think it is in the best interest of the state of Louisiana," Sinquefield continued. "I believe this case has torn this community apart."

"I think this is a very fair resolution and I think it’s in the best interest of everyone involved," added Derbes. "It’s meant a lot to us that we were given the blessing of the victim’s family for proceeding with the plea discussion."

Higgins later explained that Greenhouse, Jr. thought he was doing what was best for his family by taking the plea deal.

"He knows this would never be behind him unless he did something like this today," Higgins said.

Higgins added that he has been in contact with Chris Few's family.

"Our heart goes out to him (Few) and his family, and it always has," he said. "This is just tragic."