Appeals court upholds Pierce’s murder conviction, vacates gun charge

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Less than a month after a Wilmington man appealed his murder conviction, the North Carolina Court of Appeals has made its ruling.

The justices upheld Anthony Pierce’s second-degree murder conviction. A jury found him guilty in causing the death of Wilmington Police Ofc. Rich Matthews as Matthews joined a pursuit of Pierce’s SUV in 2009.

READ THE NC COURT OF APPEALS OPINION IN STATE V. PIERCE

The court, though, vacated Pierce’s possession of a firearm by a felon conviction for a gun found along the route of the chase. The court ruled the trial judged erred by not dismissing the charge.

No word yet on whether pierce will appeal to a higher court.