VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach man who was convicted of killing a 19-year-old during a drug deal in 2016 will spend nearly three decades behind bars.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle announced Monday that 32-year-old Harold Vincent Cole Jr. was sentenced by a judge to 29 years.
A jury found Cole guilty in January on charges including first-degree murder for the death of 19-year-old Gregory Delong. Prosecutors said Cole — who went by the name Taliban at the time — fatally shot Delong after he and his co-defendant, Malik Brown, met the teen for a drug deal.
Brown, who was a juvenile at the time, has since pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, robbery, use of a firearm and conspiracy charges. He could face up to 18 years when he is sentenced June 6.
According to prosecutors, Cole has previous convictions for charges including armed robbery, possession of cocaine and possession of firearm by convicted felon.