A Bowling Green man accused of shooting and killing two owners of a local restaurant has pleaded guilty.

Xiaosong Wang, 63, was transported from the jail Monday to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman for a plea hearing.

He entered pleas of guilty to all charges, including murder, as long as the sentence included an opportunity for parole.

“As for the word murder … I personally don’t believe this is murder. I believe this is an accident,” said Mandarin interpreter Qun Wu for Wang.

The state recommended a sentence that includes the opportunity for parole, but Kuhlman said he did not have to adhere to that offer.

Wang said, through the interpreter, that he would plead guilty as long as the state would not ask for a life sentence with no parole.

“The court does not have to follow that agreement,” Kuhlman said.

Wang was indicted in September for two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of felonious assault, and two counts of possessing criminal tools.

The Bowling Green Police Division responded to 528 Monroe Court on Sept. 17 shortly after midnight after receiving multiple 911 calls about gunshots.

Zhichun Huang, 36, and Bing Luan Lin, 40, both of Bowling Green, died from their injuries. They were owners of the Bowling Green restaurant Ninja Hibachi Sushi Steak House. Wang and Qiu were employed there.

According to Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson, Wang had been informed by the restaurant owners that he was being fired after an altercation with another employee. The restaurant owners had purchased the Monroe Court home, which was used as living quarters for restaurant staff.

When one of the owners tried to give Wang his final check and evict him from the premises, Wang objected and tried to enter the house. When he was pushed back, he drew one of two guns he had in his pockets and shot the owner. He then turned and shot the second owner several times as he stood in his bedroom, according to Dobson.

Wang then moved through the house and shot at least two more times, wounding a co-worker, before he proceeded outside and fired more rounds.

Kuhlman said the aggravated murder charges each have a potential sentence of life without parole, the murder charges each carry a potential sentence of 15 years to life, the attempted murder charges each have the possibility of 3-16.5 years, the felonious assault charges have a possible 2-12 years each, and the possessing criminal tools each have the possibility of 6-12 months in prison.

Gun specifications on eight counts would add 24 years.

The longest minimum sentence is life in prison, Kuhlman said.

“I don’t think life sentence is fair,” Wu said for Wang.

The charges could merge at the time of sentencing, Kuhlman said.

Dobson said the minimum sentence the court could impose was 26 years and that he would be arguing for more.

Wang, who is not a U.S. citizen, was also worried about the case being a financial burden on his family.

Kuhlman said the court had no intention of imposing financial penalties on Wang’s family members.

Dobson said he had contacted the wives of the victims and did hear back regarding the plea.

The wives indicated “thank you very much,” he said.

The two wives and the man who was shot in the arm, were notified of the plea hearing, but did not attend.

The state and defense stipulated the facts of the case, which were not read in court.

“I don’t think they have significant evidence to prove that,” Wang said through the interpreter.

However, “I stipulate to the basic fact (in the indictment),” he said.

“(The plea) wasn’t what we were talking about, but it’s a pretty straight forward case,” Dobson said after the hearing about negotiations with the defense attorneys.

An eight-day trial scheduled to start Sept. 9 has been canceled.

Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 24.