A judge in Mercer County will sentence a Sharon man who told police he shot a co-worker at Walmart for making negative comments about his decision to undergo a transgender transformation.

Zachary McClimans, 23, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of attempted first-degree murder.

Prosecutors dropped seven other charges filed against McClimans who was accused of shooting a co-worker four times in November 2016.

According to a criminal complaint, the shooting occurred shortly after McClimans told his co-workers at the Hermitage store that he was beginning the process of changing gender from male to female.

McClimans told police that after fellow employee Jayson Hall made a disparaging remark about his decision, McClimans returned to Walmart with the intention of stopping Hall from allegedly making threats.

Police say that McClimans shot Hall four times, then went to his car in the parking lot where police found him with a .38 caliber pistol.

Hall survived the shooting.