In the late hours of a Friday night in May 2023, a long-simmering feud erupted into deadly violence at the Inferno Sports Bar in Columbus, Mississippi, claiming the life of 33-year-old Devin Demartius Thompson. The shooting, which also left four other individuals wounded, was the culmination of a decade-long dispute between Thompson and another man, Undra Lamorris Williams.
The incident unfolded around 11:45 p.m.
on May 26, 2023, when officers responded to numerous 911 calls about a shooting at the busy establishment on Highway 45 North. Inside, they found a chaotic scene. Thompson had been fatally shot and was pronounced dead at the location. The four other victims were transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle by private vehicles for treatment of their injuries, which ranged from gunshot wounds to the chest to more minor injuries.
Investigators quickly identified 30-year-old Undra Lamorris Williams as the suspect. Columbus Police Chief Joseph Daughtry stated that the shooting was not a random act of violence but stemmed from an 'ongoing disagreement' between Williams and Thompson, who had happened to encounter each other at the bar. Following the release of his name and photo to the public, a family member of Williams contacted the police chief. After negotiations, Williams turned himself in to authorities the following evening.
Williams was subsequently charged with one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault. In August 2024, his case went to trial. Witnesses recounted the events of that night, and prosecutors presented evidence of the long-standing animosity between the two men. After hearing the testimony, a jury found Undra Williams Jr. guilty of the murder of Devin Thompson. He was sentenced to life in prison, plus an additional 60 years for the aggravated assault charges.
