Getaway Driver In Nolan Shooting Released Early From Prison

The getaway driver in the murder of a minor league pitcher and Yonkers native was released from prison early. Garth O'Neil Cole, who pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, was released from prison Wednesday.

The family of Michael Nolan, an Oakland A's minor league pitcher who was killed in 2015, said the early release was a "slap in the face" to them and Yonkers, the Journal News reported.

Cole was released because of good behavior.

He had been sentenced in January 2017 to five years in prison.

Nolan was shot in the parking lot of the Burger King at 826 Central Avenue in Yonkers Sept. 18, 2015. He was struck in the head and remained in a coma until he was declared dead Oct. 9, 2015.

Police and the district attorney's office found that the shooting was in retaliation for the beating of someone known to Cole and the others and related to a drag race two nights before the shooting.

Nolan had been drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2014, while he was on the baseball team at Oklahoma City University.

Nashaun Hunter received 25 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a felony. Tejmitra Singh was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, a felony. Darren Dawson received nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to first-degree assault, a felony.

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.