By Rich McKay ATLANTA - Former National Basketball Association player Javaris Crittenton pleaded guilty on Wednesday in the 2011 death of an Atlanta woman, admitting he fired an automatic rifle in a drive-by shooting but saying he never meant to kill anyone. Crittenton, 27, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a weapon and aggravated assault with a firearm. Opening statements had been expected on Wednesday in the murder case against Crittenton and his cousin, Douglas Gamble, who were accused of gunning down Julian Jones, 22, a mother of four, in August 2011. Crittenton, a point guard who played two seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007, said he took the plea deal because it was "time to be a man." Sobbing, he claimed he intended only to scare someone and was heartbroken to learn he had killed Jones.