BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The man found guilty of a deadly shooting outside an after-hours nightclub on Orton Avenue will spend his next 18 years behind bars.

Jihad Ray pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection to the murder of 22-year-old Brandon Hernendez in April.

In court Thursday morning, Hernandez's mother called Ray a murderer and a coward. She said she'll never forgive him for killing her son.

Ray apologized for his actions. He thanked the prosecution for giving him a second chance at life, and said he hopes to become a better person.

District attorney Steve Cornwell says this was a difficult case to prosecute, with nearly 100 witnesses choosing not to testify.

"There were a lot of facts and circumstances in the case that we had to take into consideration and we did that and under the circumstances, that's the best outcome we could arrive at,” said Steve Cornwell, Broome County District Attorney.

The Orton Avenue nightclub where the incident happened has since closed its doors as part of a city lockdown.