A Cofield man became the third person sentenced to prison in a deadly robbery that occurred in Woodland in September of 2017.
Captain Patrick Jacobs of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday 28-year-old Deshawn Beveraly pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon in a home invasion which claimed the life of 50-year-old Edward Phipps, a Littleton resident who was living in Woodland at the time.
Beverly was sentenced to 20-25 years during a special setting of Hertford County Superior Court.
“This day has been a long time coming, but I am grateful this part of the proceeding is concluded,” said District Attorney Kim G. Scott. “There are two remaining co-defendants calendared to be tried in the months to come.”
Scott offered a “special thank you to the families affected by this horrific tragedy who continue to show up over and over in the pursuit of justice.”
She also commended the sheriff’s office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation “for their tireless efforts in investigating this case, and to Assistant District Attorney Glenn Perry and Legal Assistant Kalen Smallwood for their hard work, dedication, and efforts in prosecuting this case.”
Beverly joins 29-year-old Deshy Gatling and 28-year-old Eric Vaughan Jr. as defendants sentenced in the case.
Gatling took a plea and received 20-25 years while Vaughan was found guilty by a jury and received life without parole.
The armed robbery occurred shortly before 11:45 p.m. at Arrowhead Mobile Home Park in Woodland.
Phipps sustained several gunshot wounds and later died.
Jacobs and Sergeant D. Shepard obtained warrants on Beverly where he was initially charged in October 2017 with several counts including first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, and six counts of second-degree kidnapping.
Jacobs said the sheriff’s office expresses appreciation to its members assisting in the investigation as well as the SBI. “We would like to thank the district attorney's office for an outstanding job with this case trial. We are thankful that the family members of the victim have justice on their side for the loss of their loved one and justice for the other victims in this case for the horrific events they experienced.”
