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JACKSON – The fourth of five defendants in a 2017 murder near Woodland has been sentenced for their participation in that crime.

Raquan Williams, age 29 of Woodland, was sentenced in Northampton County Superior Court on Sept. 10 after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years – maximum 19 years – in prison.

Williams and the others charged in this case were accused of murdering Edward Phipps at Arrowhead Mobile Home Park near Woodland. The armed robbery/home invasion crime occurred on Sept. 22, 2017. It was then that Phipps was shot and later passed away from his injuries.

Williams was initially charged with first-degree murder, eight counts of first degree kidnapping, three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of first degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, and injury to personal property.

The kidnapping charges were due to the fact there were at least eight individuals, to include children under the age of 16, at the Phipps residence at the time of the home invasion. They were all held against their will.

After an extensive investigation by Captain Patrick Jacobs of the Northampton Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division and the North Carolina SBI, arrest warrants were obtained on five defendants in October 2017.

In addition to Williams, three others have been sentenced in this murder case.

Deshy Gatling, age 29 of Ahoskie, pled guilty in October of last year to second degree murder and armed robbery. He received 20-to-25 years in prison.

In January of this year, Eric M. Vaughan Jr., 28 of Woodland, was convicted of first degree murder by a Northampton County jury and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In February, Deshawn Lamont Beverly, 28 of Cofield, pled guilty in Northampton Superior Court to second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 20-to-25 years in prison.

Court proceedings are pending against the fifth defendant, Shirley Williams of Murfreesboro.

“The Northampton County Sheriff’s Office would like thank members of the Sheriff’s Office that assisted with this investigation, the NC State Bureau of Investigations for their assistance in this original investigation, and we would like to thank the District Attorney’s Office for an outstanding job with these cases in court,” stated Sheriff Jack Smith. “We are thankful that the victims and family members of the deceased victim has justice on their side for the loss of their love one and justice for the other victims in this case for the horrific events they experienced on Sept. 22, 2017.”