FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — A man pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in Forsyth County Superior Court on Monday related to the death of a 53-year old woman in Kernersville in November 2022.
Derrick Jose Ward, 35, had been on pretrial release for assault by strangulation and assault on a female with an unrelated victim when he shot and killed 55-year-old Paula Kay Self on November 7, 2022, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. According to investigators, Ward was in a relationship with Self.
As part of the plea agreement, Ward will serve a minimum of 120 months and a maximum of 156 months in the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
Deputies were called to an address on Weatherton Drive in Kernersville shortly before 5 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2022 in reference to a shooting call. When they arrived, they found Self deceased in her home. An additional gunshot victim was located alive at a neighbor's house and taken to Baptist Hospital.
According to the sheriff's office, investigators discovered video surveillance that showed Ward leaving Self's residence following an argyment with her. There was also additional surveillance video showing Ward returning to the home later that morning.
Investigators learned from the surviving victim that Ward confronted them at Self's home before shooting them both. This man was able to escape to a neighbor's residence, where he called 911.
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.