NORFOLK, Va. — Cola Beale was convicted on Wednesday of killing his cousin in a Norfolk murder that followed closely after his Virginia Beach murder convictions in March.
Beale was found guilty of first-degree murder and using a gun in the commission of a felony in connection to his cousin's death.
Beale was previously found guilty in March of killing his girlfriend and a man who was as a father figure to Beale. His sentencing for those crimes will take place on July 2.
Norfolk
Cola Beale convicted of two murders, burning down his girlfriend's townhome
The Virginia Beach trial lasted just two days.
In March 2022, Beale shot his girlfriend, Czavi'er Hill, 31, in the head inside her Virginia Beach home and then set the residence on fire, burning Hill's dog alive while it was caged in a kennel.
A couple of days later, police say Beale shot and killed his father figure, Clifton Baxter, 73, while he slept on the couch inside his house.
Beale admitted to these killings in a police interrogation and a News 3 jailhouse interview.
Watch: Jailhouse interview with Beale
Wednesday, Beale was found guilty of murdering his cousin, Downing McLean, 32. Beale admitted to shooting McLean in the head after the two had argued.
"I got fed up with him because he didn't think I was helping him, so I said, 'Man, I just killed two people... do you think I'm not ready to shoot again?'" Beale said. "I went right into the kitchen and shot him in the head. He didn’t drop and kept moving, so I shot him in the back to make sure he hit the ground."
Beale shot his cousin on March 28, 2022, once in the face and once in the back and left him for dead.
During closing arguments, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, Anthony Comento told the jury how McLean was not an angel because of how he was tied to the killings in Virginia Beach, but said McLean deserved to be prosecuted not executed.
Meanwhile, Beale's attorney told the jury that he should not be charged with first-degree murder but rather second-degree voluntary manslaughter.
Crime
Cola Beale expresses regret in jailhouse interview after murder conviction
They argue Beale did not plan to kill his cousin.
Instead, it happened after his cousin was drunk and was telling Beale to kill people for him.
After more than an hour of deliberating the jury found Beale guilty on other charges.
"I don't know what turned Mr. Beale into someone so violent, typically what we see is that profoundly damaged people do this kind of thing," Ramin Fatehi, the Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney, said. "That said, Mr. Beale is a profound danger and he will spend if not the rest of his life then a substantial majority of his life in prison."
Fatehi said ahead of the trial a plea offer was given to Beale.
Watch previous coverage: Cola Beale expresses regret in jailhouse interview after murder conviction
If accepted, Beale would have the one first-degree murder charge in Norfolk and would serve life in prison while serving his sentence for the two murders in Virginia Beach.
"Everybody has a right to a trial, but I felt that was a fair offer and it was Mr. Beale's prerogative to decline," Fatehi said.
After the verdict News 3 put in a request with the Virginia Beach Jail to interview Beale.
The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office responded stating Beale declines any interview unless he is paid.
News 3 does not pay for interviews.
Beale's sentencing in Norfolk is set for Aug. 23 and his sentencing in Virginia Beach is set for July 2.
