He had a record of 27 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Jamaican professional boxer O'Neil Bell's life was cut short at the hands of two alleged street gang members, officials said.
Now the defendants in the case, Tycorion Davis and Quintavius Robinson, pleaded guilty to murder, armed robbery, and participation in street gang activity.
On Nov. 25, 2015, Bell and a 28-year-old man were leaving a MARTA bus near the intersection of Harbin Road and Campbellton Road in Atlanta.
Prosecutors said as they were walking, a red PT Cruiser pulled up beside them with Davis and Robinson inside of it.
The suspects first allegedly robbed the man who was walking behind Bell and then they turned their attention to the former boxing champion. At some point during the robbery, there was a physical altercation and Bell was shot in the chest. Authorities said he died at the scene.
The other victim was also shot but survived.
The Fulton County District Attorney's Office said, a day earlier, 20-year-old Cortez Williams allegedly stole the vehicle used in the crime from an East Point home.
That same night, two other robberies happened before Bell was fatally shot.
The district attorney's office said the vehicle was found and they were able to identify suspects by the fingerprints inside of the PT Cruiser. Williams later pleaded guilty to armed robbery for his role in the crime spree and was sentenced to 15 years with eight to serve in prison.
According to prosecutors, Williams claimed that Davis said, "I am going to kill someone" before Bell's murder. He alleged that Robinson replied, "I am with you."
Following their arrests, prosecutors said Williams told police that before Bell’s murder, Davis said: “I am going to kill someone.”
He alleged Robinson replied: “I am with you.”
Davis and Robinson admitted their actions were the result of an attempt to elevate their status within the Atlanta criminal street gang of which they were members, according to Fulton County prosecutors.
Robinson was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Davis was sentenced to 40 years with 35 to serve in prison.
The victim, Bell was a competitive boxer from 1998 to 2011. Prosecutors said he held an undisputed cruiserweight title and the lineal cruiserweight title in 2006.