In the morning hours of a spring day in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, a violent altercation cut short the life of 33-year-old Matthew A. 'Mizzie' Williams. On Tuesday, April 21, 2015, just before 9 a.m. on the 900 block of 13th Street, a dispute between Williams and another man escalated with tragic finality. Williams, who was just steps from his own home, was shot multiple times. He was emergently flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for medical treatment, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead later that same day. The sound of gunfire shattered the morning quiet for neighbors, including sanitation workers and children on their way to school, who became unwitting witnesses to the unfolding tragedy.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to 25-year-old Christopher Kirkland as the suspect. Police believe the shooting was the result of an argument between Williams and Kirkland. During the confrontation, Kirkland reportedly pulled out a gun and fired at least six shots at Williams. Kirkland was taken into custody and subsequently charged with criminal homicide. He was denied bond and taken to the Beaver County Jail.
In May of 2016, Christopher Kirkland faced sentencing for the death of Matthew Williams. Expressing remorse for his actions, Kirkland, who was 26 at the time of sentencing, apologized to Williams' family and asked for their forgiveness, stating, 'I'm a dad myself. A brother, a son.' He claimed that he was not trying to kill Williams and that despite having a license to carry a firearm, he did not know how to use it properly. Kirkland, who had no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 12 to 30 years in prison for his role in the shooting death of Matthew Williams.
