A celebration of new life at a baby shower on Detroit's east side turned into a scene of tragedy on the evening of October 15, 2023. Phebian Williams, a 53-year-old woman, was fatally shot in the neck inside a residence in the 15600 block of Edmore Drive. The joyous occasion descended into chaos following a verbal altercation that escalated with deadly consequences.
Emergency medical services arrived at the home to find Williams in the kitchen, where she was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The alleged assailant was identified as Shawanda Woods, a 44-year-old from Ypsilanti who was described as a longtime friend of Williams. Accounts from witnesses suggest that a simmering tension between the two women had been brewing. On the day of the baby shower, an argument erupted, reportedly concerning Williams' son, whom Woods had accused of a crime days earlier. The verbal dispute turned physical, and in a swift, tragic turn of events, Woods allegedly produced a handgun and fired, fatally wounding her friend. The shooting occurred in a house filled with people, including children, who were there for the celebration.
In the immediate aftermath, Woods fled the residence and drove to the Detroit Police Department's Ninth Precinct to turn herself in. However, she was followed by Phebian Williams' 36-year-old son, Leandre Devon Love. As Woods exited her vehicle in the precinct's parking lot, Love allegedly struck her with his car. Woods was hospitalized in serious condition following the incident. Both she and Love were taken into custody.
Shawanda Woods was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm for the death of Phebian Williams. She was arraigned and remanded to jail. Leandre Devon Love faced charges of assault with intent to murder and felonious assault for the incident outside the police precinct. He was arraigned and given a $100,000 personal bond. The case then moved to the court system for preliminary examinations and probable cause conferences to determine the next steps in the legal process.
