On a Wednesday morning, the life of Leon Bradley Douglas Jr. was cut short in a wave of holiday gun violence that had been troubling the city. It was November 30, 2022, when police responded to a shooting at his residence on the 1000 block of University Street in Albany, Georgia. Upon their arrival at 9:15 a.m., they found 41-year-old Leon Douglas deceased at the scene.
A loving and kind man known for his bright, contagious smile and quirky sense of humor, Leon was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 11, 1981. He had moved to Albany and graduated from Westover High School in 2000. He was a creative and talented individual who had a passion for the arts. This led him to a career as a cameraman for WALB TV-10. More recently, he had been working as a security guard at the Hilton Garden Inn. He was a man who believed strongly in family and cherished the time he spent with them.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Albany Police Department identified 35-year-old Gregory Williams as a suspect in the fatal incident. Described as being 6-feet-5 and weighing 171 pounds, Williams was considered armed and dangerous. The police sought the public's assistance in locating him.
Authorities announced that Williams was wanted on several serious charges, including murder, home invasion, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain crimes. The community was urged to come forward with any information regarding Williams' whereabouts by contacting Crime Stoppers or the Albany Police Department. The investigation into the violent death of Leon Douglas continued as his family and friends mourned the loss of a man remembered for his gentle and personable demeanor.
