In the early hours of February 11, 2020, the life of 36-year-old Melissa Williams, a Black/African American female, was tragically cut short in what appeared to be a violent home invasion in Lakewood, Washington. The incident unfolded at the Union Crest apartments where she was residing with her father. Two armed men burst into their home, forever altering the course of many lives.
Melissa’s father recounted the terrifying moments to the police, explaining that he was held at gunpoint
in his room by one of the intruders. While confined, he heard the other suspect in another room with his daughter, followed by the chilling sound of a single gunshot. The assailants then fled the scene with electronics, including laptops and cell phones. When he was able to check on his daughter, he found her with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Neighbors in the apartment complex were left shaken and fearful, describing Melissa as a friendly and affectionate person who was known for her kindness.
The investigation by the Lakewood Police Department soon revealed that the home invasion was not a random act of violence. It was orchestrated by a woman who knew the victims. Arkangler Conners, who lived in the same apartment with Melissa and her father, had complained to friends that the two were stealing from her. In response to these accusations, one of her friends, Napua Nelson, offered to help retrieve the purportedly stolen items. Nelson then planned the robbery with Vincent Flakes.
In the ensuing months, all three individuals were arrested and faced charges for their involvement in Melissa Williams’s death. The investigation pieced together a narrative of betrayal and violence that led to a senseless murder. Ultimately, Vincent Flakes, the man who fired the fatal shot, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery and was sentenced to just over 17 years in prison. His accomplice, Napua Nelson, was sentenced to 10 years and three months for her role in the crime. The charges against Arkangler Conners, the instigator of the deadly plan, were dismissed due to her lack of mental competency to stand trial.
