OMAHA, Neb. -- The Nebraska Supreme Court is keeping a convicted murderer behind bars. 

The state's High Court denied Forrest Cox III's appeal for post-conviction relief.

Cox is serving life in prison related to the 2017 murder of Laron Rogers outside an Omaha convenience store. 

Cox argues in his appeal that his counsel was ineffective both during the trial and at the appeal, but the Supreme Court disagreed. 

Authorities say the shooting began as a drug deal gone wrong.