On a Wednesday afternoon in Washington, Pennsylvania, just one day before his 37th birthday, Leonard Wayne Williams Jr., a Black male, was shot and killed. The incident, which occurred on September 1, 2021, in the 100 block of West Walnut Street, stemmed from a dispute over an eviction notice. Williams, a U.S. Air Force veteran and single father, was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. His death was ruled a homicide by the Washington County Coroner.
The conflict began after Quentin Trisler Jr., the son of Williams' landlord, placed eviction notices on multiple doors at the property. An argument ensued between Williams and Trisler. According to Williams' family, he was shot in front of his children with his hands in the air after questioning the eviction notice. They contend that Trisler went to his vehicle to get a gun and then returned to shoot Williams. Williams' two daughters, who reportedly witnessed the shooting, stated that their father backed away from the truck with his hands up, pleading not to be shot in front of them, before Trisler fired twice, hitting him in the chest.
Following the shooting, a suspect was taken into custody by the Washington police. However, the Washington County District Attorney, Jason Walsh, later announced that no charges would be filed in the case. The district attorney's office deemed the shooting a 'justifiable homicide,' stating that the landlord acted in self-defense. According to the official account, Williams became the aggressor after the eviction notice was posted, following the landlord to his truck and attempting to get into the vehicle. Walsh stated that witnesses reported a struggle over the driver's side door and that the landlord shot Williams out of fear for his life. The district attorney said that four witnesses corroborated the shooter's version of events, with one describing Williams as 'enraged.'
The decision not to press charges sparked protests, with Williams' family and community members calling for justice and disputing the official narrative. The family questioned the account provided by the district attorney, pointing out that Williams' body was found some distance from the truck, which they argued contradicted the claim of a struggle at the vehicle. They also emphasized that Williams was unarmed. The family has advocated for the case to be reopened and for the evidence to be presented to a jury.
