RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today after discharging a firearm during an armed robbery at a convenience store. According to court documents, on July 3, 2023, Darryl Nathaniel Cole, 59, entered a 7-Eleven on Mechanicsville Turnpike and attempted to purchase tobacco products. When another customer entered the store, Cole briefly left and returned minutes later.
On his return, Cole attempted to make the purchase again by swiping his debit card in the point-of-sale machine. However, due to insufficient funds in his account, the transaction could not be completed. At this point, Cole produced a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the store clerk. He demanded money from the register while continuing to aim the handgun at the clerk.
As Cole began to leave the store with the stolen money, the clerk retrieved a hammer from a drawer near the cash register and moved towards the back of the store. In response to this action by the clerk, Cole fired one shot from his handgun in their direction which hit a nearby coffeemaker.
Cole is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 26. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division after Senior U.S District Judge John A Gibney Jr accepted Cole's plea.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S Attorney Ellen Hubbard who is also an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman.