One of the men accused of shooting a Cherry Road convenience store clerk in July pleaded guilty to attempted murder and attempted armed robbery charges on Thursday, according to York County Circuit Court officials.

Kadeem Sanders, 20, of Rock Hill, entered a guilty plea to charges of attempted murder, attempted armed robbery, criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Sanders’ sentencing has been deferred, his public defender said, pending the resolution of a trial for accomplice 17-year-old Kairon Maldonado, who faces the same charges as Sanders.

If Sanders testifies truthfully, he faces a sentence of 14 to 17 years for the four charges.

Maldonado and Sanders were arrested in Rock Hill after police say they shot convenience store clerk Vipul “Rick” Patel, 38, during a July 25 robbery at the Cherry Road Discount Food and Beverage.

Rock Hill officers patrolling the area on the night of the robbery saw two men run out of the convenience store with a rifle.

Following a chase, police caught Sanders, who lives near the convenience store in the Boyd Hill housing authority apartments. Maldonado was arrested on Aug. 2 by Rock Hill police.

Anna Douglas 803-329-4068