A Wilmington man has been convicted of the January 2015 murder of 16-year-old Jordan Ellerbe. Oliver “Butter” Henry, 25, has pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree and faces a minimum of 15 years in prison officials said Thursday.
Officials said Ellerbe’s murder ignited a rapidly accelerating feud between two rival gangs, Shoot to Kill and Only My Brothers. In the months and years following his death, a vicious cycle of gun violence and retaliation led to multiple shootings and murders including the broad daylight murder of 15-year-old Brandon Wingo in addition to dozens of arrests.
Following a lengthy investigation by the Wilmington Police Department and the DOJ, Henry was indicted in January 2023 for Ellerbe’s killing. On March 6, he pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree. He faces a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence; the State will recommend up to 20 years in prison.