WILMINGTON — Two Wilmington women appeared in New Hanover County District Court this morning to face first-degree murder charges involving the Friday night murder of 34-year-old Antwyn Curtis Beatty.
Police responded to the 200 block of North 13th Street in response to a citizen’s call about a shooting in the area just before 8 p.m. Friday, according to Wilmington Police Department Spokeswoman Cathryn Lindsay. Beatty was found shot and lying in the grass.
Wilmington detectives arrested 20-year-old Cerrica Jackson and 24-year-old Kalissa Durant shortly after the shooting and charged the two women with Beatty’s murder, Lindsay said. According to records with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the two were arrested in the 800 block of Elance Moore Lane at about 9:20 p.m. on Friday.
On Monday morning, Jackson and Durant appeared before Judge Lindsey Luther in district court to face charges of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a schedule II controlled substance. Both women were appointed an attorney with the Capital Public Defender’s Office.
At the request of Assistant District Attorney Timothy Severo, the judge ordered the two suspects to remain at the New Hanover County jail without bonds.
In court Monday, Durant denied the killing when she appeared before the judge and became aggravated at the bailiffs as she left the courtroom.
According to records with the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Durant has been previously convicted of four felonies, including four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Her most recent conviction was in October 2013 on two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. She has pending misdemeanor charges in New Hanover and Onslow counties.
Jackson, who police say is a gang member, has previously been convicted of four felony charges, according to prison records. Her most recent conviction was in October 2015 on charges of conspiracy to commit common law robbery and assault inflicting serious injury on a law enforcement officer. She was released from prison in January, but remains on probation with her term scheduled to end on Dec. 29.
Jackson and Durant are scheduled to make their next appearance in New Hanover County District Court on Oct. 13.
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