Man found guilty of 2021 Memorial Day triple murder apologizes to family of toddler killed in crossfire

David Williams, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder for the deaths of three individuals, including a toddler, during a shooting in a College Drive apartment complex on Memorial Day 2021. The jury found him guilty of killing Reginald Thomas, 20; Dewayne Dunn Jr., 16; and Ja'Tyri Brown, just 1 year old. Williams’ brother, Ladarius Coleman, who was also involved in the incident, was convicted last year and sentenced to life in prison.

During the trial, Williams expressed remorse when he addressed the family of Ja'Tyri Brown, stating, "I love children, so this is hurting me." However, his apology did not resonate with Brown's grandmother, who left the courtroom mid-testimony. This emotional scene underscored the gravity of his actions and their impact on the victims' families.

Prosecutors argued that Williams was responsible for the deaths, emphasizing that "three people are not here today" due to his actions. They claimed that Williams and Coleman had gone to the pool area intending to take guns from Thomas and Dunn, insinuating that Williams executed them without regard for human life. "He went in there and started this altercation," the prosecution stated, making a clear distinction that it was not a case of self-defense.

In contrast, the defense contended that Williams fired in response to Dunn raising his weapon. They questioned the practicality of the situation by asking, "Who brings an AR to a pool on Memorial Day?" This statement was meant to suggest that the environment was not conducive to the violent altercation that unfolded.

Ultimately, Williams’ conviction entails a life sentence for the second-degree murders he committed, which serves as a solemn reminder of the tragic loss of life in this case.