In the late evening of Wednesday, May 22, 2019, a 911 call shattered the quiet of the 100 block of Blair Street in Florence, Alabama, reporting a shooting. When officers from the Florence Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered a man on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was identified as Willie Oneal Hollis, a 63-year-old Black male from the nearby city of Sheffield.
Emergency medical services, including the Florence Fire Department and Shoals
Ambulance, were dispatched to provide immediate medical attention to Mr. Hollis. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital. The incident quickly turned from a shooting investigation into a homicide case, prompting detectives to secure the area and begin their work.
As the investigation unfolded, officers took another man, identified as William Butler, into custody at the scene. Butler was subsequently transported to the Florence Police Department for questioning. Following the interview and based on the initial evidence gathered, William Butler was arrested and charged with the murder of Willie Oneal Hollis.
Detectives continued to process the scene on Blair Street, meticulously collecting evidence and speaking with potential witnesses in the neighborhood. The collected evidence was slated to be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for further analysis and testing to build a comprehensive case in the death of Willie Oneal Hollis.
