by KYW's Tony Hanson

KYW Newsradio has learned accused cop killer, Solomon Montgomery (above), has reached a plea deal, and is scheduled to plead guilty to murder at a hearing next week.

Several sources have confirmed Solomon Montgomery is expected to plead guilty to the ambush murder of Philadelphia police officer Gary Skerski (right) in May of last year.  

According to the sources, Montgomery will be sentenced to life in prison and will give up appeal rights. The deal will also spare the victim's family the ordeal of trial.
 
Forty-six-year-old officer Skerski and his partner were responding to a robbery call at Pat's cafe, and officer Skerski was shot at point blank range with a shotgun and it was caught on tape, as described by prosecutor Jude Conroy following an earlier preliminary hearing:

"The defendant is observed on the videotape raising and leveling the shotgun, waiting for the officer to come through the door."
 
Montgomery was arrested ten days later, during a dramatic car and foot chase. Montgomery was shot when police say he went for a gun.