In the early morning hours of September 14, 2015, the life of 19-year-old Kristen Jetel Rekeem Williams of Conway, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. The incident unfolded at University Village at the Coast, an off-campus student housing complex near Myrtle Beach. Police were initially called to the scene around 4 a.m. for a reported assault.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Williams unresponsive on the ground, bleeding from his head.
Initial reports were conflicting and chaotic. Williams's brother had called 911, stating he saw his brother lying on the ground after an apparent assault. Another caller reported that Williams had been pushed from a balcony. When officers arrived, they were met by a small, agitated crowd. Despite the initial confusion, it was clear that Williams had sustained a serious injury.
An autopsy would later reveal the true cause of death: a gunshot wound to the head. This discovery shifted the focus of the investigation from an assault or a fall to a homicide. Authorities identified 20-year-old Dequan Rashad Wilson of Myrtle Beach as a suspect in the shooting.
A warrant was issued for Wilson's arrest, and on September 17, 2015, he turned himself in to the police. He was subsequently charged with murder in connection with the death of Kristen Jetel Rekeem Williams. Although the incident occurred at a student apartment complex, it was confirmed that Williams was not a student at the nearby Coastal Carolina University.
