In the early hours of a summer day in Elmira, New York, a dispute over a video game console tragically escalated, ending the life of 44-year-old Tiko Head. On June 23, 2016, a heated argument with Akeem Williams over a missing Xbox turned fatal. The confrontation culminated in Williams shooting Head.
Struck by a single gunshot, Head stumbled out of the residence, calling for help before collapsing.
First responders arrived at the scene and rushed him to a local medical center, but he ultimately succumbed to his wound. The male victim's death was ruled a homicide.
The Elmira Police Department investigation swiftly identified Akeem Williams as the suspect. He was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. A key piece of evidence in the case was the revolver recovered by police. While initial DNA analysis of the weapon was inconclusive, a more advanced technique, TrueAllele computer analysis, statistically linked Williams to the gun.
Williams faced a jury in Chemung County Court. His first trial in August 2017 resulted in a hung jury. However, the prosecution proceeded with a second trial in October of the same year. On November 2, 2017, the jury found Akeem Williams guilty of both second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was later sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the death of Tiko Head.
