By Justin Story, Bowling Green Daily News

BOWLING GREEN —With a last-minute guilty plea, a Bowling Green man avoided trial for crimes related to a deadly 2021 shooting that occurred downtown.

Dederic Anderson, 32, pleaded guilty Monday in Warren Circuit Court to charges of murder, first-degree wanton endangerment, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and second-degree fleeing or evading police.

The offenses arose from the Jan. 10, 2021, shooting of 23-year-old Tayveon Bibb, of Bowling Green.

Bibb was shot multiple times in the 300 block of East Main Avenue and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.

According to a copy of the plea agreement, the Warren County Commonwealth’s Office is recommending a 23-year sentence for Anderson.

A jury trial had been set to begin Monday, with Anderson facing an additional first-degree wanton endangerment count and a first-degree persistent felony offender charge that were both dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Anderson faced up to 70 years in prison or life with no chance at parole for at least 20 years if he had been convicted as charged by a jury.

The Bowling Green Police Department investigated Bibb’s death.

City police officers were called to Three Brothers Bar on the night of Jan. 10, 2021, on a report of people possibly having guns there.

As officers patrolled behind the building on foot, gunshots originating from the area in front of the business were fired, prompting officers to run toward the noise.

Police found Bibb on the sidewalk with five gunshot wounds, according to prior court testimony.

Officers spoke with witnesses, and through investigation learned of a feud between Bibb and two other men, one of whom was Anderson.

Then-BGPD Detective Rebecca Robbins testified during a 2021 preliminary hearing in Warren District Court that police learned of prior physical confrontations between Bibb and Anderson along with threatening messages sent over Snapchat.

On Jan. 16, 2021, Anderson met with detectives at BGPD headquarters, and reportedly denied involvement in the shooting, claiming to have been at a friend’s house that night on Kelly Road.

Robbins testified that police made contact with the friend, who provided more details about the night of the incident, leading police to conclude that Anderson traveled with a group of friends in separate vehicles downtown in the early morning hours of Jan. 10, 2021.

Anderson allegedly confessed his involvement in a subsequent interview, with Robbins testifying in 2021 that Anderson admitted firing multiple rounds during a physical confrontation with Bibb.

Anderson then claimed to have sold the firearm to someone in Nashville, Robbins testified at the preliminary hearing.

A final sentencing before Warren Circuit Judge J.B. Hines has been set for Dec. 12.