In the late summer of 2017, the life of 38-year-old Brandon James Williams came to a tragic and abrupt end inside a Stillwater, Oklahoma, bail bonds office. On August 9th, Williams, a male, entered Signature Bail Bonds for what he was led to believe was a meeting to discuss his bail. He was facing charges for drugs and second-degree burglary. However, the bail bondsman, Chasity Carey, had a different intention.
Believing Williams was a flight risk, she planned to revoke his bond and take him back into custody.
The situation inside the office quickly escalated. After a seemingly amicable start to their conversation, Carey locked the office door and informed Williams he was going to be handcuffed. A struggle ensued, and as the unarmed Williams attempted to flee, Carey retrieved a handgun from her desk and shot him in the back. The entire incident, including Williams' final moments, was captured by a video camera in the office.
Following the shooting, Chasity Carey was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She maintained that she acted in self-defense, fearing for her own life and that of her son, who was also present during the confrontation. Despite the video evidence, which many viewed as contradicting her claim, a Payne County jury acquitted Carey of the murder charge in March 2018. The verdict, which hinged on the jury's interpretation of reasonable doubt regarding her intent to kill, was met with shock and disbelief by many.
In the aftermath of the criminal trial, Brandon Williams' family announced their intention to pursue a civil case against Carey, seeking a measure of justice and accountability for his death. They expressed that their goal was not financial compensation, but to prevent a similar tragedy from happening to another family. The case highlighted the complexities of self-defense laws and the actions of bail bondsmen.
