Victor Rodriguez has plead guilty to first degree murder with the use of a firearm and attempted murder with use of a firearm in order to avoid the death penalty for a Mother's Day shooting along Highway 395 in Washoe Valley, prosecutors say.

Rodriguez, also known as Steve Contreras, shot and killed Carson City resident Rene Angulo, 17, on the side of Hwy 395 on May 10. When Wayne Nash, also of Carson City, stopped to help Angulo, Rodriguez shot him. Nash is recovering from his injuries.

Washoe County Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Greco says the plea deal, "...was a surprise, a very pleasant surprise."

He says District Attorney Dick Gammick was considering whether to seek the death penalty in the case early last week, when the defense attorneys called to propose a deal. The District Attorney's Office never filed a death penalty notice.

Sentencing will take place on October 1. Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of life without parole plus 60 additional years for both crimes.