On a Saturday morning in Wilson, North Carolina, the life of 54-year-old Khisa Hhalille Williams was tragically cut short in an act of violence that unfolded at a public gas station. On August 15, 2026, police responded to a call of a domestic incident in progress at the Shell gas station located at 4945 Raleigh Road Parkway. While officers were en route, the situation escalated with reports that a woman had been shot. Upon arrival, they found Williams suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services transported her, but she succumbed to her injuries before reaching the hospital.
The investigation into Williams' death quickly pointed to a suspect with whom she had been in a previous dating relationship. Authorities identified 54-year-old Devone Sharnell Best, a resident of Wilson, as the individual responsible for the shooting. Following the incident, Best fled the scene, prompting a search that extended over several days. Through the collaborative efforts of the Wilson Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Task Force, Best was located and apprehended in Raleigh on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Devone Sharnell Best was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Court records revealed that Best had a prior felony conviction from 2006 for attempted assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, which legally prohibited him from possessing a firearm. After his arrest, Best was transported back to Wilson and booked into the Wilson County Detention Center, where he was held without bond. His first court appearance was scheduled for August 21, 2026. The case against Best marks the beginning of a legal process to seek justice for the death of Khisa Hhalille Williams, a case that has highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence within the community.
