SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man pleaded guilty Friday morning to killing two former co-workers during a late-night robbery at the DeWitt Chili’s restaurant in September 2018.

William Wood, 33, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He will face life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to County Court Judge Stephen Dougherty.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said he is relinquishing jurisdiction to the federal government, which means any sentence that is given in Onondaga County Court will run at the end of any federal sentence. Federal prosecutors have said they are pursuing a possible death-penalty case.

Fitzpatrick said he was in touch with U.S. Attorney Grant Jacquith, whose office is handling the federal charges, the day after the murders. Fitzpatrick said he expects a Department of Justice committee will make a decision before Wood is sentenced on whether federal prosecutors will pursue a death-penalty case.

Wood’s defense attorney, Ben Coffin, said Wood is hoping to avoid the death penalty by pleading guilty to the state charges.

"This is the outcome we were expecting,'' Coffin said of Wood pleading guilty. “This has been our target since the inception.”

Wood admitted to shooting to death Kristopher Hicks and Stephen Gudknecht at 1 a.m. Sept 15, 2018. Wood was a former employee at the restaurant who came back to steal cash. Wood admitted to shooting both men in their heads.

Stephen Gudknecht, left, and Kristopher Hicks were shot to death during a robbery early Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, at Chili's in DeWitt. Provided

Wood pleaded guilty to all 10 counts of the indictment against him, including attempted murder of another former Chili’s co-worker by attempting to shoot her with a loaded handgun.

Fitzpatrick said by Wood pleading guilty it saves the family from “lengthy, heart-wrenching” trial. Fitzpatrick said he believes Wood is “non-remorseful and evil.”

“The empty places at the table, the holidays that are going to be spent without their child and their father, and it’s so heartbreaking,” Fitzpatrick said. “There never ever will be closure for these people.”

Sentencing will be held on April 15.