A second man has pleaded guilty in the fatal December 2003 shooting of a young Toronto youth worker.

Craig Scotland, 23, admitted guilt on Tuesday, one day after his co-accused pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the slaying of 24-year-old Kempton Howard.

On Monday, Aslyn Walker apologized to the victim's mother in court, saying he never meant to kill Howard.

Walker, 27, said he was sorry he brought a handgun to Howard's east-end apartment building.

"If I wasn't carrying a gun that night, this never would have happened," he said. "I thought before that carrying a gun would make me safe. Now I realize that no one is safe."

Walker was sentenced to life in jail. He will be eligible for parole in 14 years.

Scotland will return to court on Monday for sentencing.

Both men were originally charged with first-degree murder in the case. The Crown said they went to Howard's apartment, near Danforth and Jones Avenues, because they were angry he had thrown them out of a community centre dance for smoking marijuana.

The pair got into a fight with Howard, and he was shot fatally in the head, court heard. Howard has been described as a role model who had a positive influence on children. Scholarships have been created in his name, and a park has been named in his honour.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Chris Eby