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WATERLOO – A Cedar Rapids man pleaded guilty to gun charges at the last minute in connection with a January shooting in Cedar Falls.

Jurors were beginning to file into the courtroom to hear opening statements in the state’s case against Corion Jamal Pursley on Wednesday when Judge George Stigler had them return to the jury room because Pursley had taken a plea agreement.

Authorities said witnesses saw Pursley, 22, with a silver revolver when gunfire erupted Jan. 14 during a dance at Wesley Foundation Church on College Street.

He was originally charged with felon in possession of a firearm, but under the plea arrangement hammered out Wednesday, Pursley entered an Alford plea — not admitting guilt but acknowledging he would likely be convicted if the trial continued — to a lesser charge of carrying weapons.

Carrying weapons is a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of two years in prison, whereas felon in possession of a firearm is a felony carried up to five years.

Sentencing will be at a later date, and the sentence for the weapons charge will run concurrent with a 15-year sentence in three burglary cases stemming from December 2015 home break-ins in Cedar Falls.