On December 24, 2024, 26-year-old African American male Chazz Williams was fatally shot while sitting in his vehicle at the Bayou Willows apartment complex on Young Street in Pasadena, Texas. The incident occurred around 3:52 p.m., when two unidentified suspects approached his car. One suspect produced a handgun and shot Williams multiple times, striking him in the head, neck, and torso.
After the shooting, both suspects ransacked Williams' vehicle before fleeing the scene in a dark-colored, newer model Nissan sedan with aluminum wheels.
Williams, originally from Houston and residing in Atlanta, was visiting family for the holidays. He was a father to a 7-year-old daughter. His mother, Dawnielle Williams, described him as a positive and cheerful individual who could turn negative situations into positive ones. The loss has deeply affected his family, especially his young daughter, who now faces future milestones without her father's presence.
Witnesses reported seeing two men fleeing the scene on foot, heading west toward Fox Meadow Lane. One suspect was described as wearing a white and gray hoodie with black pants, while the other wore a black hoodie and black pants. Cell phone video captured by a witness showed the suspects running across a field at Young Elementary School next to the complex, with one holding a bag and the other a gun. They then entered a blue Nissan Altima parked at the school.
The Pasadena Police Department launched an investigation, reviewing surveillance footage and collecting evidence. A $5,000 reward was offered by Crime Stoppers of Houston for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
On January 15, 2025, 18-year-old Quinton Gaines Jr. was arrested by the U.S. Marshals-led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force in Conneaut, Ohio. Gaines was wanted by the Pasadena Police Department for capital murder in connection with Williams' death. He was apprehended at a residence on Madison Street in Conneaut.
The second suspect remains unidentified, and authorities continue to seek information from the public to aid in the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective M. Quintanilla of the Pasadena Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit at 713-475-7803, referencing case number 24-020099. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 713-222-TIPS visiting or using the Crime Stoppers mobile app.
