Saltville man pleads guilty to murdering next door neighbor in June

A Smyth County, Virginia man arrested after police said he shot his neighbor pleaded guilty in Circuit Court.

Skylar Hughes was taken into custody after weeks of arguing between him and the resident next door turned violent on June 5 on Dry Cove Lane in Saltville.

Deputies found the body of Michael Blevins at the bottom of the steps at his residence after Hughes emptied the magazine of his 9mm when he said Blevins lunged at him.

Hughes will be sentenced in May.

(IMAGE: Property of Southwest Virginia Regional Jail)