In the heart of Harlem, 65-year-old Anthony Williams, a Black/African American male, was a familiar and beloved figure. He was often found on the street corner, grilling and selling jerk chicken, sometimes even offering it for free. His presence was a source of comfort and community for many in his neighborhood. But on the morning of September 20, 2023, this familiar scene of generosity and neighborhood life was shattered by a senseless act of violence that would claim his life.
Around 11:19 a.m., as Williams stood in front of 639 Lenox Ave., he was approached by a man intent on robbery. The assailant forcibly took Williams' property, but Williams, in an act of defiance, attempted to retrieve his belongings. The confrontation escalated tragically when the robber pulled out a gun and shot Williams in the chest. The assailant, described as a man with a slim build wearing a gray Nike hooded sweatshirt, a black face mask, black jeans, and black sneakers, then fled the scene in a black Nissan Maxima, heading south on Lenox Avenue.
Medics arrived quickly and transported Williams to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. The brazen daytime shooting sent shockwaves through the Harlem community, who mourned the loss of a man described by his niece as a 'good guy' who was 'always here on the corner just talking to everybody and being nice.' Others remembered him as a 'family man' and an 'absolutely all-around nice person.'
The New York Police Department immediately launched an investigation. Nearly two months later, on November 10, 2023, a breakthrough was made in the case. Authorities arrested 28-year-old Trenton Henry of East Harlem. He was subsequently charged with murder and robbery in connection with the fatal shooting of Anthony Williams, bringing a measure of hope for justice to a grieving community.
