SEATTLE -- A plea deal means no death penalty for the man who went on a shooting rampage in Skagit County in September 2008.

Issac Zamora pleaded guilty Tuesday to 18 of 20 counts against him, including murder, attempted murder and burglary. Six people were killed and four others wounded on Sept. 2 in a shooting rampage that began in Alger.

For the other two counts, Zamora pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Those two counts are for the deaths of Skagit County sheriff’s deputy Anne Jackson and Alger resident Chester Rose, the first person killed.

Prosecutor Rich Weyrich said Zamora’s mental illness and public safety led to his decision to accept Zamora’s pleas.

“What we believe this agreement does is it keeps him from ever getting on the streets. He'll either be in Western State Hospital or the Department of Corrections,” Weyrich said.

Reporters thought Tuesday’s court hearing was to hear whether the prosecutor would seek the death penalty, but in a surprise move Superior Court Judge Mike Rickert declared Zamora mentally competent and then announced the pleas.

“We're here today then to enter pleas as to 18 charges, 18 counts. And guilty pleas by reason of insanity as two charges against you. Is that correct?” Rickert asked.

“Yes, your honor, as far as I understand,” Zamora said.

The other four people killed were Julie Binschus, 48; Greg Gillum, 38; David Radcliffe, 58; and Leroy Lange, 64.

Lawyers on both sides are asking that Zamora be committed to Western State Hospital until he is deemed mentally fit to be transferred to state prison to serve a life sentence.

Judge Mike Rickert is scheduled to issue the sentence on Nov. 30.

Three of Zamora's victims have all ready filed multimillion-dollar lawsuits against the state. They accuse the state of ignoring signs of Zamora's mental illness that should have kept him off the streets.