Man sentenced to life in 2014 New Year’s Day murder

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A 32-year-old man will spend life plus 19 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murder and attempted murder.

Derrick Pierce, 32, killed Keisha Ward, 31, and tried to kill Johnny Tyler on New Year’s Day 2014.

The jury heard closing arguments on Monday after a more than two week trial. They deliberated for an hour before returning the guilty verdict.

During testimony, the jury heard evidence that Pierce, along with his co-defendants, assaulted the victims over a two hour period inside the victim’s house. At the time of the murder, her children were asleep in another room but were not hurt. According to a neighbor, Ward hosted a New Year’s Eve party hours before she was killed.

In January, Antwan Johnson pleaded guilty to second degree murder and an additional count of attempted murder. A judge sentenced him to between 30 and 37 years for the murder charge and between 16 and 20 for attempted murder.

Amanda Kay Canady is also charged with murder.