3 convicted of murder in shooting of NJ man at youth football practice

Three New Jersey men have been found guilty of murder and related charges in the shooting of a 37-year-old man outside a middle school in South Jersey just over six years ago, prosecutors said Thursday.
A jury in Cumberland County deliberated for just under two hours to convict Eugene Cosby, 48, of Malaga, Will El-Bey, 28, of Vineland, and Clifton Bailey, 33, of Camden, for their roles in the fatal shooting of Joseph Jones, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release.
The shooting took place in Millville, some 35 miles east of Atlantic City, on Aug. 9, 2018, just after 8 pm
A masked gunman shot the victim ten times in the parking lot of Lakeside Middle School after the conclusion of a youth football practice, according to prosecutors.
Jones, described by local media as a father and a former youth football coach , was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said in 2018 the incident was “particularly unsettling because it was committed in broad daylight at a football practice field in front of numerous children.”
A multi-agency investigation later concluded that Cosby and Bailey disposed of the vehicles used in the crime. Cosby and El-Bey were also accused of conspiring with others to provide false statements to authorities.
They were arrested in late 2018 along with three other co-defendants, who have pleaded guilty for their roles in attempting to thwart the investigation.
All three men have been convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstructing administration of law and other crimes.
Prosecutors have not specified which of the three defendants was the masked gunman.
Cosby, Bailey and El-Bey are facing a maximum sentence of life in prison and will be ineligible for parole until they serve at least 85% of their sentence, under the state’s No Early Release Act, or NERA.
They are due back in court for a sentencing hearing on Jan. 10.