On a Sunday afternoon in June 2019, 16-year-old Aneesa Williams was with a group of people at a party in an area off Perkinsville Road, east of Chino Valley, Arizona. The gathering involved alcohol, and at some point, one of the attendees began firing a revolver.
During the party, 19-year-old Johnathan Rice of Chino Valley was reportedly firing the handgun randomly. While in the bed of a pickup truck with others, Rice discharged a round that struck Aneesa in the head.
An off-duty police officer came across the scene but was initially unable to contact authorities due to a lack of cell phone service in the remote area.
By the time the officer was able to call for help, Aneesa had succumbed to her injury and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office responded, and three males were initially detained for questioning.
Following the initial investigation, Johnathan Rice was arrested and booked on a charge of second-degree murder. He was taken to the Camp Verde Detention Center. Authorities stated that the investigation was ongoing and that additional charges could be filed.
