On December 23, 2020, Jayse Damir Wilson, a 2-year-old boy from Saint Paul, MN, tragically died from a gunshot wound to the head. The incident occurred at an apartment on the 800 block of Rice Street. Medics responded to a report of a child suffering a head injury at 1:12 p.m., and despite their efforts, Jayse was pronounced dead eight minutes after the 911 call.
The suspect in this case is Earl Williams, a 39-year-old man from Saint Paul.
Williams was in the apartment at the time of the incident and had left a firearm unattended in the bathroom. According to the criminal complaint, Williams called Jayse's mother frantically, stating that the boy had shot himself with the gun he had left out. Williams then left the apartment, taking a blue bag and his jacket, and instructed one of Jayse's sisters to call 911.
Williams turned himself in to the police on Christmas night, December 25, 2020, and was subsequently arrested. He has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of possession of a firearm by an ineligible person. Williams has a criminal history that includes five prior felony convictions, such as attempted armed robbery and aggravated sexual assault.
The investigation revealed that Williams had initially fled to Iowa before surrendering to authorities. Surveillance footage showed him leaving the apartment building shortly after the incident. No firearm was found at the scene when the police arrived. Williams remains in custody, with bail set at $250,000.
