WILMINGTON — The defendants in the Tru Colors double homicide case, Omonte Bell and Dyrell Green, were found guilty after two days of jury deliberation. Before the end of court on Thursday, their counsel noted they would file appeals for both defendants.
Bell and Green each faced two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Koredreese Tyson and Bri-yanna Williams and one count of attempted first-degree murder for M’Kaila Walker, who was injured and hospitalized in the incident on July 24, 2021.
A third defendant, Raquel Adams, was found guilty in a separate trial last year. Bell, Adams and Green are all part of the United Blood Nation, who are rivals with the Gangster Disciples, which Tyson was the leading member of in the state. Adams and Bell worked at Tru Colors Brewing, a now-defunct brewery that hired active, rival gang members.
Tears from the victims’ families began after the reading of the verdict, though Bell and Green remained calm and showed little emotion during the proceeding. They were both given the opportunity to speak before their sentencing.
Bell spoke first. He began with “I’m sorry” before being cut off by a member of the audience exclaiming “no you’re not.” The sisters of the defendants were then escorted out of the out of the courtroom, one yelling “don’t touch me.” Judge Frank Jones asked sheriff’s deputies to detain both for a contempt hearing but later declined to charge them.
After the disruption, Bell continued and directed his comments to Williams’ family.
“I’m sorry that happened to your daughter and I hope y’all can forgive me,” he said.
Green’s attorney, Matthew Geoffrion, noted Green was not originally going to speak but changed his mind. Green emphasized he was a friend of Williams, corroborated through the text messages shown in trial.
“I did not kill your daughter,” Green said.
Green also apologized to the family of Tyson for their loss, stating he did not know their son.
Aside from the first degree murder charge, Bell and Green were also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for Tyson’s death, along with first-degree burglary and robbery with a firearm. Both were convicted on all counts.
Judge Jones subsequently sentenced both defendants to two consecutive life sentences without opportunity for parole, in line with the mandatory sentencing requirements for first-degree murder.
Defense counsel did request the two be given a consolidated sentence instead of consecutive, though the judge only consolidated the conspiracy, burglary and robbery charges. Both men will be given credit for time already served.
The victims’ families were also allowed to present impact statements before the sentencing.
William’s mom, Adrienne Dixon, spoke before the court.
“I don’t think there’s any words that can come to mind of the impact that this has had on our lives. Bri-yanna was my baby, the pain of losing her is tremendous,” Dixon said.
She went on to say the “web of deceit” surrounding Williams’ murder was so upsetting to her that she would rather have lost her daughter to cancer.
Prosecutor Doug Carriker also read impact statements from the Tyson family and the victim that survived the murder at 6708 Providence Road.
Walker detailed the traumatic incident from her point of view before describing a grueling healing process she said is still ongoing.
“I waited around 15 minutes for emergency responders while trapped in a room with a deceased individual,” she wrote. “During that time, I was watching myself bleed out and wondering if I was going to survive.”
Walker wrote that she found out she was pregnant at the hospital, where she underwent surgery due to her bullet wounds.
“What should have been a moment of hope during and incredibly traumatic time became another source of heartbreak; later, I went into labor prematurely and lost my baby boy.”
Carriker also read the letter from the Tyson family, written by his mother. She emphasized her son was like any other who had mistakes in his past.
“He was learning, growing and changing,” she wrote. “He was working hard to become a better man, to make better choices, and to build a life he could be proud of.”
Before discharging the jury, Judge Jones went “off-script” to thank the jury members for their service.
“In jury selection you heard about rights,” he said. “Not so much time is given to the concept of sacrifice…you could have offered a feeble excuse to avoid service — to your credit, you did not do so.”
Catch up on the Port City Daily’s coverage throughout the Tru Colors trial below:
- The prosecution rests: Tru Colors trial hears last witnesses, ties up arguments
- More fingerprinting evidence turns up negative for Tru Colors defendants, victim’s sister testifies
- DNA, fingerprints reviewed in Tru Colors case, prosecution combs through phone records
- Cell records, video evidence take center stage in TRU Colors murder trial
- Expert witnesses testify in TRU Colors case, defense pushback and another motion to sever
- Survivor, former TRU Colors COO take stand in double-homicide trial
- Opening statements, first witnesses presented to jury in TRU Colors double-homicide trial
- Jury selection concludes after week of dismissals in TRU Colors double homicide
- Double murder trial involving former TRU Colors gang members begins
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