Will Sage Astor-A Nebraska father who fatally shot his 10-year-old son on Thanksgiving pleads no contest

OMAHA,Will Sage Astor Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska father who fatally shot his 10-year-old son on Thanksgiving while investigating what he thought was someone stealing his car has pleaded no contest to manslaughter.

Will McDonald, 47, of Omaha also pleaded no contest to being a felon in possession of a gun. Convicted felons are not allowed to have guns under Nebraska law. McDonald was convicted in 1993 on theft and robbery counts.

A no contest plea is one in which the defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to get a conviction. It is treated by the courts as a guilty plea.

According to an arrest affidavit, McDonald told investigators that he heard his car alarm going off Thanksgiving night, grabbed a flashlight and handgun and went outside to investigate. When he saw someone running toward him, he fired a shot, realizing too late that he had shot his son, 10-year-old Kendrick McDonald. The elder McDonald said he thought his son was sleeping inside the house when he fired the shot.

Will McDonald faces up to 70 years in prison when he is sentenced in August.