Issiah Mehki Ross, 20, was convicted of second-degree murder in North Carolina for killing 18-year-old Devin Clark but saw a mistrial declared on the first-degree murder charge related to 14-year-old Lyric Woods’ death.
Incident Summary
On September 16, 2022, Ross, Clark, and Woods were in a car near Efland when Clark reportedly pointed a gun’s laser at Ross repeatedly. Ross allegedly wrestled the gun away after accidental shots fired near him, then shot Clark three times and Woods seven times, claiming self-defense; their bodies were found 36 hours later in a field off Buckhorn Road.
Trial Outcome
After a three-week trial in Orange County, the jury convicted Ross on the Clark charge on Thursday, sentencing him to 20-25 years with pretrial credit and required psychiatric evaluation. Jurors deadlocked 8-4 on Woods’ case, prompting a mistrial agreed by both sides, with prosecutors planning a retrial.
Key Testimony
Witness Christian Sykes testified Ross confessed to the shootings, boasting bodies were dumped where “nobody’s gonna find them,” and detailed the struggle over the gun. Judge Stephanie Reese highlighted excessive shots and lasting community trauma during sentencing.
Victim Impact
Families expressed profound grief, with Clark’s cousin calling him the “glue” of their group. Reese noted Ross can still contact family while victims cannot, urging him to redeem his life beyond the conviction.
