Murder suspect taunts victim’s family in courtroom

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The man accused of shooting and killing a Wilmington man made his first appearance in court this morning.

Police said Antonio Horton Beatty, 21, was arrested Saturday and charged with first degree murder in the death of Carlton Walker Whitley. Whitley, 25, was killed in late July in a shooting on Metting Road.

“My daughter shouldn’t have to grow up without a father because of someone else’s stupidity,” Whitley’s fiance Octavia Bryant said.

Octavia Bryant and her infant daughter sat in the courtroom as the man accused of killing her fiance faced a judge.

“What he did in court shows that he does not care,” Bryant said.

Beatty, 21, smiled at his alleged victim’s family. The victim’s sister Ebony Silman described what he did next.

“On his way out he looked at my niece and looked at my brother’s fiance and stuck his tongue out and laughed,” Silman said.

Silman said it was more than just disrespectful.

“That’s cold hearted,” Silman said.

A gesture Bryant said their daughter did not deserve.

“That’s so disrespectful,” Bryant said. “She’s five months. She’s five months. She didn’t ask for that. She didn’t deserve that.”

Bryant said 5-month-old Chasity was Whitley’s whole world.

“He loved me and he sure loved her,” Bryant said. “He adored this little girl. This was all he cared about.”

That is why Silman said she is going to stand up for her brother.

“My brother didn’t deserve that,” Silman said. “He worked. He rapped. He took care of his family. He didn’t deserve that. I don’t care if I have to fight an army. I am going to be his voice.”

A judge put Beatty back in jail under no bond. He will be given a court appointed capital defender.