Dontrell Dwayne Williams was a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran and a student at Columbus State University, known to friends and family as a kind, goofy, and charismatic man. His loved ones considered him the glue that held his cousins together, and a friend credited Dontrell with helping him overcome alcoholism and suicidal thoughts. This young Black man was working an overnight shift at a convenience store, saving money for rent, when his life was taken.
In the early morning hours of
September 23, 2019, a masked person entered the Circle K at the intersection of Forrest and Floyd roads in Columbus, Georgia. According to his family, Dontrell complied with the robber’s demands, putting his hands up and giving the man money from the register. After Dontrell raised his hands again, the assailant shot him multiple times. Dontrell Williams was rushed to Piedmont Columbus Regional hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 3:00 a.m.
The community mourned the sudden loss of a man who had touched so many lives. His funeral was standing room only, and he was laid to rest with military honors at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. In the wake of her son’s death, his mother, Tanya Weaver, founded the organization Moms Against Violence to advocate against gun violence. The investigation led Columbus police to a suspect two months later. Daequavian Solomon was identified and, at the time, was already in custody in a neighboring county for an unrelated weapons violation. He was charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
For more than four years, Dontrell’s family waited for legal closure, holding vigils and balloon releases in his memory while his mother frequently called the District Attorney’s office for updates. The case finally went to trial in March 2025. Prosecutors presented testimony from Solomon’s ex-girlfriend, who identified him as the shooter, and evidence that shell casings found near his home matched the caliber of those at the crime scene. After a week-long trial, a jury deliberated for about an hour before finding Daequavian Solomon guilty of murder, aggravated assault, and attempted armed robbery.
In May 2025, a judge sentenced Solomon to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 55 years. After the verdict, Dontrell's mother expressed her gratitude. "It doesn't bring my son back," she said. "But it lets me know that the man who did it is gone for the rest of his life."
