A Central Florida man pulled out his concealed firearm and murdered his ex-wife and her son.
After a four-day trial last week, a Volusia County jury found defendant Michael Williams guilty as charged of two counts of Second-Degree Murder (Firearm).
“The defendant shot and killed a grandmother and father in front of their 5-year-old grandson/son and 6-year-old granddaughter/daughter,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “It is inconceivable to imagine the hurt and grief those precious children will endure over the course of their lifetimes.”
On September 18, 2022, Volusia Sheriff’s deputies responded to the defendant’s DeLand home after he called 911 to report that he had pulled out his concealed firearm and shot his ex-wife and her son.
When deputies arrived at the scene, Williams was taken into custody and the two victims were found dead inside the home. They both had multiple gunshot wounds.
Detectives determined that the defendant and his ex-wife were in an ongoing dispute over domestic issues, such as electrical power in the home, which they were both still living in following their divorce in June 2022. Williams and the victim had called the sheriff’s office in the months leading up to the murders to document verbal arguments. However, there were never allegations of domestic violence or verbal threats.
The defendant told detectives that he came home that night and a confrontation began between him and his ex-wife. He said that it escalated and the victims attacked him. Williams claimed he shot them with his firearm in self-defense. However, the defendant’s injuries were not significant. Detectives photographed a scratch on his upper lip, an abrasion on his left knee and light scratches across his torso. Williams also admitted that neither of the victims had weapons on them or made verbal threats to him.
“There is no sentence the court can impose that will sufficiently punish the defendant for the heartache and damage he has caused,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said. “I hope when he dies he receives the full magnitude of punishment he deserves.”
The case was investigated by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Mark Interlicchio successfully tried the case for the state. The Honorable Randell Rowe III presided over the case and will pronounce sentence at a later date.
Williams faces up to life in prison for the crimes.
