On January 17, 2024, 23-year-old Jaynice Briel Ferguson-Williams was fatally shot at her apartment complex on Dunvale Street in Houston, Texas. Responding officers found her unresponsive with a gunshot wound to her thigh; she was transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased.
In her final moments, Ferguson-Williams identified her ex-boyfriend, 45-year-old Algie Mac Washington, as her assailant.
Their relationship, which began and ended in 2020, was marked by Washington's persistent harassment and violence following their breakup. Despite Ferguson-Williams obtaining a protective order and reporting multiple assaults—including an incident in 2022 where Washington allegedly attempted to strangle her—his behavior escalated.
Washington's criminal history includes four felony convictions for offenses against Ferguson-Williams, such as aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and continuous violence against family. Family members recounted his obsessive behavior, including threats like, "If I can't have her, then nobody can."
On January 24, 2024, Houston police apprehended Washington at an apartment complex on Winrock Street. He was charged with murder and held on a $1 million bond. Ferguson-Williams' family expressed relief at his arrest but criticized authorities for not taking earlier actions that might have prevented her death, citing the numerous reports and protective measures previously sought.
In the wake of this tragedy, Ferguson-Williams' family held vigils to honor her memory and advocate for justice. They continue to question systemic failures that allowed Washington's abusive behavior to persist unchecked, underscoring the need for more effective interventions in domestic violence cases to protect potential victims.
