Antonia Felton Williams Jr., a 32-year-old man from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was known by loved ones for the joy he brought to those around him and the positive influence he had on their lives. Born on February 24, 1994, his life was one filled with shared moments and cherished relationships that would be remembered long after his sudden and violent death.
His family and friends would later reflect on these shared memories and the enduring bonds he created.
The night of Saturday, October 3, 2026, turned tragic in a quiet residential neighborhood of Fayetteville. At approximately 11:22 p.m., officers from the Fayetteville Police Department were dispatched to the 1900 block of Bain Drive, a street located off Murchison Road, following a report of a shooting. Inside a home, they discovered Antonia Felton Williams suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the arrival of emergency personnel, Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. His death marked the city's fourth fatal shooting in just over a week, a grim statistic that left the community on edge.
The Fayetteville Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. In the initial hours, the victim's identity was withheld pending notification of his family. Detectives began processing the scene and seeking information from the public, asking anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. The investigation was led by Detective B. Pleze, who urged community members to share any potential leads.
Within days, the investigation yielded its first significant breakthrough. On October 7, 2026, police arrested 33-year-old Ricky Jerome Robinson, Jr. in connection with the fatal shooting. Robinson was charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and felony conspiracy. He was taken to the Cumberland County Detention Center and held without bond. The investigation did not stop there, as police continued to pursue leads, suggesting the involvement of at least one other individual.
A second arrest followed about a week later. On October 15, police took 24-year-old Jahiem Conya McBride into custody. McBride faced the same serious charges as Robinson: first-degree murder and felony conspiracy robbery with a dangerous weapon. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. Like Robinson, McBride was remanded to the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond, awaiting legal proceedings. The arrests marked a critical step forward in the case, bringing a measure of progress for a grieving family and a concerned community.
In the wake of his death, Antonia's family announced funeral arrangements through Colvin Funeral Home & Crematory. They created a tribute page for friends and relatives to share memories and offer condolences. A visitation was scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, October 11, at the Colvin Funeral Home Chapel on Murchison Road, allowing those who knew and loved Antonia to gather and honor his memory. As of October 2026, the case against both Ricky Robinson and Jahiem McBride is proceeding through the court system. Anyone with further information regarding the shooting was asked to contact the Fayetteville Police Department or the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers program.
