In the early morning hours of January 22, 2019, the quiet city of Kelso, Washington, was shaken by a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of a beloved community member. Kayla Chapman, a 30-year-old female employee at Holt's Quik Chek market, was shot and killed during a robbery. Despite her grave injuries, she managed to call 911 for help.
The investigation into her death quickly zeroed in on a suspect captured on surveillance footage.
The masked gunman was seen attempting to fire his weapon at Chapman even before making any demands, but the gun initially failed to discharge. After forcing her to hand over money and cigarettes, he fired again, this time striking her in the neck and chest. The suspect and at least two other individuals fled the scene in a white four-door sedan.
A critical breakthrough in the case came when a woman recognized the car shown in news reports as her own, which had been stolen by an acquaintance. This tip, along with a juvenile probation officer recognizing the suspect's image, led authorities to 19-year-old D'Anthony Leslie Williams. He was arrested without incident in Camas, Washington, the day after the murder and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. The stolen vehicle used in the crime was recovered in Vancouver.
Further investigation revealed that Williams had been with two companions, Erkinson Kinisou Bossy and Nenemeny Winter Ekiek, on the night of the murder. It is believed that the trio had traveled to Kelso for a drug deal that fell through, after which they decided to rob a store. Ekiek was later arrested during a traffic stop, and Bossy was apprehended after a police chase that ended in a shootout in Portland, Oregon. Both men were charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery.
In November 2020, following a trial that presented a wealth of evidence including DNA, surveillance video, and cellphone mapping, a Cowlitz County jury found D'Anthony Williams guilty of the premeditated murder of Kayla Chapman. He was also convicted on charges of first-degree murder in the course of another crime, first-degree robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine. His accomplices, Bossy and Ekiek, reportedly accepted plea deals for lesser charges in exchange for their testimony against him. The tragic and untimely death of Kayla Chapman left a profound impact on the Kelso community, where she was remembered as a kind, funny, and caring person.
