In the early morning hours of May 16, 2015, a domestic dispute in a Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania home culminated in the shooting death of 40-year-old Darius Williams. The incident occurred at a residence on Roberts Drive where Williams lived with his girlfriend. When Williams returned home around 3:30 a.m., he discovered Trenton Knight, then 27 years old, with his girlfriend.
An altercation ensued, leading to Knight shooting Williams.
According to police, Knight and the woman had started a relationship a few weeks prior. On the morning of the shooting, Williams' girlfriend told Knight to hide in a bedroom when she heard Williams at the door. Williams entered the home and went to the bedroom where Knight was hiding. Knight claimed that Williams was armed with a switchblade. Knight then fired several shots, striking and killing Williams at the scene. After the shooting, Knight fled the residence, reportedly in his underwear.
Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Trenton Knight, who was charged with criminal homicide. He was apprehended nearly two weeks later. During legal proceedings, Knight's defense attorney argued that he acted in self-defense. In August 2015, a district judge dismissed the general homicide charge, and Knight was ordered to stand trial for voluntary manslaughter.
In April 2016, following a non-jury trial, Common Pleas Judge Thomas E. Flaherty found Trenton Knight guilty of voluntary manslaughter and a firearms violation. While Knight maintained that he acted to protect himself, the judge noted that Williams had been shot twice in the back. In July 2016, Knight was sentenced to serve 10 to 20 years in prison for the killing of Darius Williams. During the sentencing, Knight apologized to Williams' family, stating that he never intended for the events to happen and that he was put in a position where he felt he had to protect himself.
