Daniel Eugene Clemons, 20, pleaded guilty in 3rd District Court to discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony, for wounding Tyler Lee on July 26.

Clemons - who is awaiting trial in New Jersey for allegedly shooting and wounding a man during a 2007 home invasion - also pleaded guilty to third-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person.

Clemons faces up to life in prison in Utah when he is sentenced Dec. 22 by Judge Randall Skanchy.

Prosecutor Sandi Johnson said trouble started with a verbal altercation inside Club Manhattan because Clemons was dancing with Lance Lavizzo's ex-girlfriend.

Later, Lavizzo exited the club and headed toward Clemons, who grabbed an SKS assault rifle from his car, ripped a necklace from Lavizzo's neck and pointed the rifle at Lavizzo's chest.

Lavizzo grappled for the gun, threw it to the ground and ran, Johnson said.

Clemons picked up the rifle and fired, hitting Lavizzo's friend, Tyler Lee, in the abdomen.

Clemons was discharged from the Air Force in August because of the Utah case.

Clemons' supervisors at Hill have said they were aware of the New Jersey shooting but declined to restrict him to the base because Clemons had been released by a New Jersey judge on $150,000 bail.

Three other Hill airmen were charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly helping Clemons evade police after the shooting outside the Manhattan Club.

Jeremy David Crist, 20, and Destinee Williams, 22, both waived their right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Scheduling hearings are set for Nov. 17.

Similar charges against Airman 1st Class Tacota Lemuel, 20, were dismissed after prosecutors determined she was not involved.

shunt@sltrib.com