In the early hours of December 18, 2021, a dispute over a missing cellphone tragically cut short the life of 26-year-old Cherokee Soloman Aiko, a male described by loved ones as a "Hawaiian Superman." The fatal encounter unfolded at the Southern X-posure Showclub in South Salt Lake, Utah, where Aiko had been with friends. The night took a dark turn when one of Aiko's friends discovered his cellphone was missing.
In an attempt to locate it, Aiko called the phone, only to have it answered by an unknown individual.
When Aiko's friend returned to the club, he saw another man, later identified as Romalice Latrell Williams, 36, holding and talking on the missing phone. A confrontation ensued, during which Williams reportedly pulled out a gun and cocked it. As the situation escalated, Aiko attempted to intervene and retrieve his friend's property. It was then that Williams fired multiple shots, striking Aiko twice. Surveillance footage from the club captured the harrowing moments as Aiko ran from the building before collapsing in the parking lot. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Following the shooting, Romalice Latrell Williams fled the scene. However, investigators were able to utilize surveillance footage and witness statements to identify him. Approximately 14 hours after the incident, Williams was located and arrested by Salt Lake City Police at a winter homeless shelter. At the time of his arrest, he provided a false name to the officers. A search of his room uncovered a stolen handgun that matched the caliber of the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting, along with quantities of marijuana and bath salts.
Williams was subsequently charged with multiple felonies, including murder and aggravated robbery. In June 2024, he pleaded guilty to the murder of Cherokee Aiko. During the sentencing hearing, Aiko's family members shared their profound grief, remembering him as a protector, a big brother, and the "life of the party" who was always willing to help others. His mother, Deanna Aiko, expressed the immense pain of losing her son, stating, "That early December morning that you killed my son, you killed me too." Romalice Latrell Williams was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the murder. The judge acknowledged that while parole is a possibility after 15 years, the sentence is effectively a life sentence.
