Franklin Co. Sheriff: 4 arrested in connection to murder of 19-year-old

According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Gavin Lloyd Miller, 18, and Dillon Thomas Piper, 19, were arrested in connection to the homicide of Woods in the Kerigon Lane area of Youngsville.

According to authorities, all three men knew each other and the killing was not random.

Deputies said Miller and Piper went to Kerigon Lane that evening with Brooke Harper, who was apparently intent on getting into a fight with Autumn Futrell, who was at her Kerigon Lane home with Woods and her mother.

According to a warrant that Futrell took out via magistrate, before the confrontation, Harper called Futrell, stating: "I'll whoop your ... and kill you and your mother and put y'all six feet under."

The trio arrived at the Kerigon Lane cul-de-sac with a loaded gun, according to prosecutors, and intended to use the weapon if necessary.

According to Miller's attorney, Jeffrey Cutler, when the trio arrived at Kerigon Lane, Futrell pulled Harper from the vehicle and "violently" assaulted her.

Following the assault, Harper took out charges against Futrell via magistrate, alleging that Futrell dragged her out of the vehicle by her hair and punched her in the face and the back of the head.

Cutler said Miller shot and killed Woods because he feared for the lives of Harper, himself and Piper.

Both Harper, 18, and Futrell, 18, were arrested on Jan. 30 and are slated to appear in court in May to face charges of communicating threats and simple assault, respectively.

Destiny Cannady, Wood Jr.'s older sister, released a statement on Facebook.

"My little brother, the one who swore he was the oldest, the one who was guaranteed to make you laugh because of something crazy he did, the one I fought day and night to prove I was the strongest, the one who would call me at midnight just to ask about his nieces. RIP 'Big Bro'"

Attorney Chance Lynch, Woods’ family attorney, issued the following statement on behalf of the family:

"The loss of Hamilton is a great loss for this family and the community," it read. "We are pleased by the work of the prosecutor, Ms. Lisa Coltrain and the efforts of her team at the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. The journey towards healing is long and sometimes rugged. These indictments are the first steps in this journey and the first launch towards securing justice for Hamilton."

The family intends to have a prayer vigil honoring the memory of Hamilton Woods, Jr. and to highlight the community’s stance against violence.