La Crosse man pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Winona

The 25-year-old will get up to 20 years in prison

When asked if he shot Adam Fort, he told the court yes. 

Lonnie Hudson pleaded guilty Thursday in Winona County court for the murder of Fort after a drug deal turned robbery went bad back on Oct. 18, 2015.

The 25-year-old shot Fort one time. He plea bargained to a second-degree murder charge, plus two counts of assault. Part of the agreement for Hudson, a La Crosse native who went to Caledonia (Minn.) High School, is that he sees no more than 20 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He’ll be sentenced on Nov. 17.

The murder happened in the early afternoon when three people went to Fort’s apartment for an apparent marijuana deal.

Soon after, however, the drug deal turned into a robbery and Hudson demanded money, gun in hand.

Fort and another woman in the apartment didn’t comply and Hudson shot him – piercing Fort’s arm, going through his chest and out his other arm. 

Hudson and 19-year-old Reginald Burnett filled bags with money and other items before fleeing.

Police tracked Hudson down in Wausau, Wis., on Oct. 22, following a food chase. 

Police found a handgun in Hudson’s La Crosse apartment, as well.

Burnett, who was tracked down six days after the murder in Rockdale, Ill., will be sentenced in two weeks.

According to Winona County attorney Karin Sonneman, with Hudson’s plea, all seven defendants in the case have now reached some kind of conclusion in court.