Office of the State Attorney

PRESS RELEASE

March 4, 2024     

 

State of Florida v. Ahmad Kashard Williams

                                                                                               

DOB: 10/15/1990

Case Number: 2020-0005-CF

 

Putnam County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Friend

PALATKA – During a hearing this morning, defendant Ahmad Williams was sentenced to life in prison. The defendant pled guilty in December to Second Degree-Murder (Firearm) and Possession of Firearm by Violent Career Criminal.

On January 5, 2020, a group gathered outside of a vacant home off of North Main Street and Florida Avenue in Crescent City. The defendant and his childhood friend were there together having a conversation. Eventually, Williams started making several statements that he was going to shoot his friend “in seven minutes.”

The defendant then walked around the corner of the vacant home and came back to the area where the victim was sitting. Williams pulled out a firearm and shot the victim in the head.

The victim died from his injuries at the scene. The defendant ran away after the shooting, but later turned himself in.

“What the defendant did was inconceivable. He murdered his childhood friend for no apparent reason!” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “Our victim leaves behind a large family who will never understand the brutal and senseless killing of their family member.”

The case was investigated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Crescent City Police Department. Assistant State Attorney Mark Johnson successfully prosecuted the case for the state. The Honorable Alicia Washington presided over the case and pronounced sentence.

 

For more information contact: 

Haley Harrison | Multimedia Specialist/PIO | Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida's Seventh Judicial Circuit | SAOPIO@SAO7.org