Former college football safety Avantae Williams was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a man in DeLand over the weekend. Police took Williams, 24, into custody on Monday.
The arrest stems from a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at a bar in Williams' hometown. DeLand Police and Volusia Sheriff's Office deputies responded after witnesses reported a fight broke out among several men inside the bar. During the altercation, a man pulled out a firearm and began shooting.
The victim was identified as Keshod Harris, 32, of DeLand. He was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital. An autopsy later determined Harris was shot multiple times. A bartender was also injured in the shooting, suffering injuries to both hands.
Investigators used surveillance video from the bar and nearby businesses, witness interviews, and evidence left at the scene, including an iPhone, to identify Williams as the suspect. Authorities stated the iPhone belonged to Williams and contained data relevant to the investigation, including a search for the victim's social media account shortly before the shooting. Police also used a license-plate detection system to track a vehicle seen leaving the scene, linking it to an associate of a man who accompanied Williams to the bar.
Williams turned himself in at a lawyer's office on Sunday, May 5, and was described by police as cooperative. He was formally arrested Monday. According to court records and jail records, Williams is being held without bond in the Volusia County Branch Jail.
Witness testimony and the victim's girlfriend indicated the altercation at the bar may have escalated from alleged jealousy and a prior dispute involving the girlfriend and another man present with Williams.
Avantae Williams was a highly-ranked recruit in the 2020 class. He played safety for the Miami Hurricanes, appearing in 17 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was briefly dismissed from the team in 2021 following an arrest on charges related to aggravated battery of a pregnant person, but was reinstated after the charges were dropped, serving a six-game suspension. He later transferred to the Maryland Terrapins for the 2023 season, where he played in four games before entering the transfer portal.
Police continue to investigate the shooting.
