In the late hours of a Friday night in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the life of 31-year-old Hakim Williams was brought to a violent end. On August 18, 2017, at approximately 11:03 p.m., the sound of gunshots pierced the night on Fulton Street, prompting a resident to dial 911. When officers from the New Brunswick Police Department arrived at the scene, they discovered Williams inside his car, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the murder of Hakim Williams, a resident of Howard Street in New Brunswick, was a collaborative effort involving the New Brunswick Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. Their investigation led them to identify three individuals of interest. Two men from Newark, Michael Martin, 26, also known as 'Maniac,' and Rayshawn Riddick, 31, were identified as suspects in the fatal shooting. A New Brunswick woman, Dianna Williams, 26, was also sought for questioning in connection with the homicide. Authorities believed she was in the company of the two men following the incident.
An extensive search for the suspects was launched, involving the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, the New Brunswick Police Department, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department. The efforts of law enforcement led to the apprehension of Rayshawn Riddick in New Brunswick on September 14, 2017. Michael Martin, who had fled after the murder, remained a fugitive for over a month until he was located and arrested in Philadelphia on October 23, 2017. Both Martin and Riddick were charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Dianna Williams was later charged with hindering the prosecution of another.
In November 2017, a Middlesex County grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Michael Martin, Rayshawn Riddick, and Dianna Williams for their respective roles in the death of Hakim Williams. The legal proceedings culminated in a trial that began in June 2019. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Martin and Riddick had conspired to kill Williams and had lured him to the location in New Brunswick where the murder occurred. In July 2019, both Michael Martin, then 28, and Rayshawn Riddick, then 33, were found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The conviction brought a measure of resolution to the violent death of Hakim Williams, with both men facing prison terms of 30 years to life.
