A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges related to a double shooting in Virginia Beach in which an 18-year-old was killed.
Evan Labella and two friends, referred to only by their initials in court records, were driving to Riverwood Court to meet Cameron Mooty on Dec. 11, 2022. Mooty had been communicating with a person identified as N.B. on social media to buy marijuana, according to a statement of facts entered into court. The two had never met .
Labella was in the passenger seat and a person identified as J.S. was in the back seat as N.B. drove toward Mooty on the sidewalk.
As Labella rolled down the car window to greet him, Mooty pulled a gun from his hoodie and pointed it into the car, according to the statement of facts. Labella grabbed at the gun, trying to take it away from Mooty, who fired a single shot. The 9 mm bullet went through Labella’s chest and into N.B.’s leg.
N.B. drove away, then later switched places with J.S., who drove the two Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, court records say. N.B. survived but Labella was later pronounced dead by doctors.
Police found that the phone number used to communicate with N.B. was registered to Mooty’s mother. Mooty’s fingerprints were found on the car, and he later told detectives he shot Labella, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, as well as malicious wounding, two counts of use of a firearm and attempted robbery.
Nori Leybengrub, 757-349-3523, nori.leybengrub@virginiamedia.com
