Video: Murder Victim’s Family Reacts to Guilty Verdict

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — After two hours of deliberating, the jury finds 22-year-old Derrick Nelson guilty of first degree murder in the killing of 29 year old Willie Hood. With this verdict, Nelson has been sentenced to life in prison.

“Right now I’m really happy for my family because we finally got the justice for my brother, it’s been three years since this crime was committed,” said John Lewis, Hood’s older brother.

Lewis said the past three years have been difficult to bear, knowing that the killer of his brother, was still a free man.

“These three years have been a lot of hurt and pain for my family, a lot of missing my brother, he was my only brother,” he said.

But Lewis said that pain no longer lingers over knowing justice has been served for his one and only brother.

“My immediate reaction was Joy,” said Lewis.  “It was pure joy because I know we can get the closure we need now. It’s been too long and the whole family needed this closure and I’m pretty sure we’re going to go visit my little brother’s grave and tell him we got justice.”

“When a person commits first and they’re found guilty, the court has no choice but to sentence him to life and it’s unfortunate he made that choice to commit that murder and he’s going to have to face the punishment for itm but we can’t tolerate violence and he made the choice to be violentm,” said 16th circuit court district attorney Scott Colom.

May 18th marks three years since the shooting, and it also happens to be Hood’s mother’s birthday.

“Three years later we have the guilty verdict we’ve been waiting on, and that’s the best gift she could have gotten because she hasn’t been able to really celebrate her birthday because of this crime,” said Lewis.

But after Wednesday, she, just like the rest of the family can now smile again.

“There will never be another Willie hood, but at least they can know that the right decision was made and justice has been served,” said Colom.

“Yes, it’s like a weight lifted off of everyone’s shoulder right now, and the whole family can be at peace,” said Lewis.