On a Monday afternoon in Greenville, South Carolina, a dispute over money tragically ended the life of 31-year-old Lawreese Prince Williams. On March 7, 2022, Williams went to the home of an associate, Demazio Butler, on Pine Creek Drive to collect a debt he was owed. While on the front porch of the residence, the male victim was shot three times by Butler.
Following the shooting, Butler was detained but no criminal charges were ultimately filed against him.
The Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office concluded that the case fell under South Carolina's 'stand your ground' and self-defense laws, stating they could not prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. Investigators were told by the shooter that he felt threatened during the confrontation. However, it was also reported that the shooter admitted to law enforcement that he knew Williams was unarmed. No weapon was found on Williams.
The case was closed and ruled a justifiable homicide, a decision that Williams's mother, LaCosha Williams, has publicly contested. She has described her son's death as an 'execution-style' killing and has advocated for the case to be reopened. According to the family, Butler shot Williams once, then a second time, paused, and then fired a third shot. Believing the solicitor's office and the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have not been thorough, the family continues to seek what they consider justice for Lawreese.
In the absence of criminal proceedings, LaCosha Williams pursued a civil case against Demazio Butler for the wrongful death of her son. She was awarded a default judgment totaling $3.5 million, which included $2.5 million in actual damages and $1 million in punitive damages. The court found that Butler was the sole perpetrator of an 'unnecessary and heinous act.'
