A man has pleaded guilty to shooting a father-of-two in the head in a terrifying incident that sent a quiet town into lockdown.

Jacob Dwyer, 37, was charged with murder over the death of once-promising cricketer James Deering, 32, in Wooroloo, on Perth’s eastern fringes.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jacob Dwyer pleads guilty to manslaughter over death of James Deering.

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Dwyer was due to stand trial in the WA Supreme Court on Monday but instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

What exactly happened on that day in November 2023 is expected to be made clear during Dwyer’s sentencing hearing later this month.

Emergency services raced to the area about 50 minutes from the Perth CBD, telling residents to stay inside.

At the time, police shared vision of the intense moment the suspect was taken into custody by armed officers.

“Turn around, face the other way. Put your hands on your head. Leave them there,” officers yelled.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch also said at the time he was confident it was a “confined incident between known parties”.

Deering’s family members will prepare victim impact statements for the sentencing hearing.