Dean Williams, a 59-year-old male from Washington, NC, tragically died on December 23, 2016. The cause of death was due to gunshot wounds sustained during an altercation with Maurice Andrea Gardner, also known as Maurice Andrea McCullough, age 38. The incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. in the front yard of a residence at 308 E. 14th St., where both men lived.
Williams was shot multiple times during the altercation, but the exact number of gunshot wounds was not immediately determined.
Gardner was arrested early on the morning of December 23, 2016, and charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was placed in the Beaufort County Detention Center under no bond, pending his first appearance before a judge. Gardner had a criminal history dating back to 1994 and had been released from prison in April 2016 after serving a little less than 10 years of a 13-year, six-month sentence.
The investigation revealed that the two men were not related, and the exact nature of their relationship was still under investigation at the time. The police were notified through a 911 call, and the case was still ongoing as they awaited the autopsy report to determine the exact number of gunshot wounds.
This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of violent altercations and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully. The community of Washington, NC, mourned the loss of Dean Williams, a 59-year-old male, whose life was cut short by this senseless act of violence.
