NORFOLK, Va. — Two young men will serve a combined 31 years in prison for their roles in the shooting death of 28-year-old Jalaun Latavis Colbert, who was gunned down outside his home on Hollister Avenue in July 2023.
Leon Malek Williams, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this year to second-degree murder and using a firearm during the crime. He was sentenced on July 11 to 19 years in prison. His co-defendant, 23-year-old Bryston Alexander Davis, opted for a jury trial and was sentenced in June to 12 years after being convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, firing into an occupied home, and firearm use during a felony. The jury acquitted Davis of the murder charge.
Colbert was standing outside his home smoking a cigarette around 10 p.m. on July 3, 2023, when Williams, Davis, and another unidentified person pulled up in a car, walked toward him, and opened fire. He was shot multiple times and died six days later in the hospital. His mother and the family dog were inside the house during the shooting but weren’t injured.
The events leading to the shooting began earlier that evening at a 7-Eleven in Virginia Beach. Surveillance footage showed Williams, Davis, and Colbert at the store, where a tense confrontation unfolded. According to prosecutors, Williams’ girlfriend had arranged for Colbert and his girlfriend to meet them there. The encounter escalated quickly — with both Williams and Davis reportedly pulling guns during a heated argument with Colbert. Colbert left the area and returned home.
Later that night, the group drove to Colbert’s home in the same car, left it running, and carried out the fatal shooting. Doorbell footage from Hollister Avenue confirmed key details, but evidentiary issues — especially a lack of cooperative witnesses — made prosecution challenging.
Despite this, the Commonwealth moved forward. Arrest warrants for both men were issued within two weeks of the shooting, and a grand jury later handed down additional indictments.
Williams pleaded guilty in April 2025 in exchange for having the more serious first-degree murder and conspiracy charges dropped. His sentence — 19 years in prison with another 14 years suspended — was the maximum allowed under the plea deal. After release, he’ll face five years of supervised probation and must stay out of trouble for 20 years.
Davis went to trial. His murder charge was downgraded mid-trial to second-degree, and the jury ultimately acquitted him of it. Still, the panel found him guilty of conspiracy and related charges. He received 12 years behind bars with eight years suspended, along with six years of supervised probation upon release.
Both men are barred from contacting Colbert’s family.
“This was a tough case,” said Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We had very little cooperation from witnesses, but we pushed through. These men will serve time for taking an innocent life. My heart goes out to Mr. Colbert’s family.”