An Effingham County man has pled guilty to the July 2013 slaying of his cousin.

George Antwon Perry entered a guilty plea Thursday in Effingham County Superior Court. The district attorney’s office has recommended a life sentence, with credit for time served since Perry turned himself in at the urging of his mother.

Perry shot and killed Christopher Williams, 19, following an argument in front of a Nixon Chapel Road house.

Perry fled the scene but, at the urging of his mother, turned himself in a short time later to Effingham County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

On the night of the murder, Williams was visiting family members on the 300 block of Nixon Chapel Road when Perry drove up to the house around 8 p.m. Perry got out of the car and he and Williams began arguing. Authorities said the two men had been arguing for the past day or two.

The two men got into a fight on the porch of the house, and Perry pulled out a gun and shot Williams. Investigators recovered the handgun they believe was used in the shooting.

Witnesses identified Perry as the shooter. The ECSO contacted Perry’s mother, who then talked him into turning himself in to authorities.

Perry pled guilty to one count of felony murder. Charges of malice murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime were dropped.

Had he gone to trial and been convicted, Perry faced a maximum sentence of life plus 25 years.