VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A man pleaded guilty on July 11 to voluntary manslaughter for the deadly shooting of a Virginia Beach high school student in 2018.

Jacob Meadows was charged in the shooting death of 17-year-old Christopher Ross, who played football at Ocean Lakes High School.

In court, Meadows’ attorney, James Broccoletti, claimed the incident was a drug deal turned robbery. During the preliminary hearing, a detective testified Meadows went to a home on Elson Green to sell Ross a quarter pound of marijuana. He said Ross grabbed the drugs and lifted up his shirt to show he had a gun. Defense attorneys said as Ross was leaving, he turned toward Meadows. Fearing he would be shot, Meadows fired eight times, killing Ross.

Meadows was arrested in December 2018 on several charges, including second-degree murder. He was 19 at the time of his arrest. Meadows entered into a plea agreement where he agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute more than 1/2 ounce but less than 5 pounds of marijuana and one count conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The second degree murder and two other charges were nolle prossed by the Commonwealth.

Broccoletti told 10 On Your Side this was a difficult case for both sides.

On July 19, Meadows was found guilty of indirect contempt and his bond was revoked after there was an altercation between Meadows and the victim’s family at the hearing on July 11. He was given 10 days to serve and a $250 fine on the contempt charge.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced on October 12 for the voluntary manslaughter and marijuana charges.