A Mississippi teenager who pleaded guilty to killing his mother’s boyfriend has been sentenced to decades in prison.
Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens announced on Tuesday via social media that Le’Andrew Williams, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison plus five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to the first-degree murder of Jimmie Lee Pierce Jr., 49.
Pierce was shot in May 2022 as he sat outside his Jackson apartment complex. Williams, who was 15 years old at the time, was among three people arrested in connection with his death.
According to court documents obtained by WJTV, a local CBS affiliate, Williams became angry with Pierce, who was dating his mother, and intended to confront him.
According to WJTV, Williams had been going through his mother’s phone before the fatal altercation and reading explicit texts between her and Pierce.
Williams had planned to rob Pierce at his home, and he enlisted the help of his cousin, 22-year-old Corey Hodge, and uncle, 27-year-old Bonny Fields.
WAPT, a local ABC affiliate, reported that on May 16, 2022, a witness saw Williams and Hodge approach Pierce and demand his wallet.
The witness informed the Jackson Police Department that Pierce stated, “We don’t have anything.” Williams then shot Pierce in the chest twice.
Pierce died from his injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Williams, Hodge, and Fields all turned themselves in to police several days after the shooting. Williams and Hodge were charged with capital murder, while Fields was charged as an accessory after the fact.
Williams eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
