Crime

Ex-Idaho State football coach pleads guilty to murder in 2017 Arizona killing

File photo

A former Idaho State University assistant football coach has pleaded guilty to murder in Arizona.

DaVonte’ Neal was coaching with the Bengals when he was indicted and arrested in 2022 in the 2017 shooting death of Bryan Burns, according to previous Statesman reporting.

Maricopa County Court records show Neal pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after initially being charged with first-degree murder. He will be sentenced on Oct. 4.

Neal also was charged with drive-by shooting and discharge of a weapon at a structure, according to previous Statesman reporting. He pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal.

Neal was a wide receiver and then star cornerback at the University of Arizona.

Burns was killed after his car was side-swiped, according to the Arizona Republic.

Carolyn Komatsoulis
Idaho Statesman
Carolyn covers Boise, Ada County and Latino affairs. She previously reported on Boise, Meridian and Ada County for the Idaho Press. Please reach out with feedback, tips or ideas in English or Spanish. If you like seeing stories like hers, please consider supporting her work with a digital subscription. Support my work with a digital subscription
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