Norfolk man sentenced to life for murder of cousin in Sewells Point Rd.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk man was sentenced to life after being convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his cousin, Downing McLean.

32-year-old Cola Beale has already been sentenced for the killings of his girlfriend, Czavi’er Hill, and father figure, Clifton Baxter, in March of 2022. Just a few days after those murders in Virginia Beach, Beale shot and killed his cousin, McLean, in a Norfolk apartment on Sewells Point Road.

According to court testimony, McClean wanted his cousin to kill someone on his behalf, but Beale refused — even though, days earlier, he had killed his girlfriend and father figure in Virginia Beach.

Beale then told McLean he would shoot him if he kept persisting. Shortly afterwards, Beale shot McLean once in the mouth and once in the back.

The trial for Beale’s Norfolk case went from jury selection to a guilty verdict in just a day-and-a-half.

Charles McAllister knew both families was present for Friday’s sentencing, although no immediate family were there for Beale or McLean. Eight months before the murders, McAllister met Beale the previous summer at a cookout.

He said Beale did not impress him as someone who could turn out to be responsible for multiple murders. “No, not at all – we had a nice long conversation,” he said.

We got this statement from the Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi following the life sentence:

“Justice was served today. Mr. Beale murdered multiple people, all family. He said he would have killed again. We have a duty to protect the community, and we did our duty. Our hearts go out to the families who will never get their loved ones back.”

And in the wake of a young man he knows now sentenced to four life terms, McAllister longs for simpler, less violent ways of settling differences.

“Everybody wants to start shooting everybody. I would like to see it go back in the old days – you know, fisticuffs. After it’s over go drink a beer and be on your way.”

Beale’s defense attorney asked judge Jamilah LeCruise for 35 years instead of life. The judge disagreed, citing Beale’s criminal history of three murders, arson, and 17 other felony convictions. LeCruise looked at Beale and said, “you killed in cold blood”.

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