In the early morning hours of February 7, 2017, the quiet of a Roswell, Georgia, apartment complex was shattered by the sound of multiple gunshots. When police arrived at the Nesbit Ferry Crossing Apartments on Saratoga Drive around 1:30 a.m., they discovered the body of 17-year-old Kobe Williams behind one of the buildings. The teenager, a former student at Centennial High School, had been fatally shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Williams lived in the complex with his family.
The investigation into the death of the male teenager took a startling turn when, a week later, authorities announced the arrests of two men, one of whom was the victim's older brother. Jordan Chappell Williams, 20, and his acquaintance, 19-year-old Jahmal Christopher Samuel, were taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Investigators revealed that the shooting was a tragic case of mistaken identity.
According to police, Jordan Williams and Jahmal Samuel had allegedly conspired to harm another individual who they believed had robbed a mutual acquaintance. On the night of the shooting, Samuel allegedly opened fire, mistakenly hitting and killing Kobe Williams, who he thought was their intended target. Jordan Williams was reportedly present at the scene when his younger brother was killed. The weapon used in the shooting was later found in Jordan Williams' possession.
Both Jordan Chappell Williams and Jahmal Christopher Samuel were charged with murder, participation in criminal street gang activity, and theft by receiving stolen property. They were also charged with unlawful communication of a threat to deter assistance to a criminal street gang member. Following their arrests, they were scheduled for a court appearance later in February 2017. The unexpected and tragic nature of Kobe Williams' death left his family and the community in mourning.
