This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — On Friday morning, the suspect accused of killing a teen girl in August 2020 agreed to a plea deal, the victim’s father told CBS 17.

The suspect, Devin Cordell Jones, who was 17-years-old at the time of the murder, pleaded guilty in court in his sentencing hearing early Friday afternoon.

A CBS 17 crew at the hearing on Friday confirmed Jones’ guilty plea deal has landed him a minimum time in prison of 18 years with a maximum of just over 22 years.

Police say the murder took place at about 8:20 p.m. on August 15, 2020 when 17-year-old Veronica Baker was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Bojangles’ at 3920 Jones Sausage Road near Garner.

They arrested Jones on August 19 and charged him with Baker’s murder.

In court, it was presented that Jones had admitted to detectives that he killed Veronica that night. According to the prosecutor, Jones was there to meet her to purchase marijuana and had the gun with him.

The prosecutor continued to say Jones had told detectives there was a struggle over the gun and it subsequently went off in the attempts of a robbery. Veronica was shot in the chest, the autopsy confirmed.

When discussing evidence, one shell casing was said to be located in the vehicle and use of surveillance footage and conversations on social media between Veronica and Jones helped detectives match Jones to the crime.

Jones was present in the courtroom with his lawyers speaking on his behalf. The judge did ask if he had anything to say, to which he replied “no.”

The plea deal Jones agreed to lists a minimum 216 months and maximum 272 months to be served in prison, in addition to the following conditions:

  • Jones will receive 628 days credit for incarceration 
  • Jones must not have any contact with the Baker family—directly or indirectly
  • In his first five years in jail, the court recommends that Jones not have opportunity to do any vocational or educational programs
  • If Jones tests positive for an illegal substance, he will be arrested and given a $250,000 secure bond
  • If he violates any of the terms he shall be re-arrested and give $250,000 secure bond 
  • Jones can’t have any contact with the co-defendants 

Jones’ co-defendants include three individuals who were arrested the day before Jones on August 18. These included Keyshara Michelle Deans, 19, Nezyiha Zamir Collins, 19, and Tyreek Qumay Rodgers, 18, who were charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Devin Cordell Jones, 17, in a previous mugshot, Keyshara Michelle Deans, 19, Tyreek Qumay Rodgers, 18, Nezyiha Zamir Collins, 19, (Raleigh-Wake CCBI)

A memorial now rests where Baker was found.

She was a graduate of Garner Magnet High School and was supposed to start at Wake Tech the day after she was killed, according to her father, Jim Baker.