On January 21, 2023, Willis Williams Jr., a 49-year-old father of five from Riviera Beach, Florida, tragically lost his life in a shooting incident. Known affectionately as "Man-Man," Williams was gunned down near the Midtown Grocery at Avenue E and West 19th Street in Riviera Beach on Saturday evening.
The incident occurred just days after Williams had been reunited with his 11-year-old daughter, Jaliyah, who had been missing for nearly two weeks. Williams and a friend had driven to Valdosta, Georgia, to bring Jaliyah home after she was found with her estranged mother. The joyous reunion was tragically cut short by Williams' untimely death.
Willis Williams Jr. was a dedicated employee at McCray's Backyard Bar-B-Q and Seafood, where he had worked since 2006, rising to the position of lead cook. His employer and friend, Derrick McCray Sr., described Williams as a man who was striving to be a better father and whose death was "devastating" and "unacceptable."
The community responded to Williams' death with shock and sorrow. A candlelight vigil was held the day after the shooting, attended by dozens of friends and family members. His daughter, Jaquita Williams, expressed her grief and called for justice, stating that her father "didn't bother nobody."
As of the latest reports, the Riviera Beach Police Department had not released information about potential suspects or arrests in connection with the shooting. The family has urged law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the case and bring those responsible to justice.
The tragic loss of Willis Williams Jr. has left a void in the lives of his five children, six grandchildren, and the many friends and colleagues who knew him as a hardworking man with dreams and aspirations for his family's future.
