In the early morning hours of May 2, 2021, the life of 27-year-old William Arthur Simpson IV, a Black male from Richmond, Virginia, was tragically cut short. The fatal encounter unfolded around 2:30 a.m. in Chesterfield County, a community bordering Richmond. Responding to reports of a shooting, police arrived at a residence on Provincetown Drive to find a harrowing scene. Simpson and a woman were both suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Simpson succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a domestic dispute as the underlying cause. Authorities identified 32-year-old Willie G. Williams III, also from Richmond, as the suspect. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Williams fled the area. His escape was short-lived, however, as he was involved in a single-vehicle crash outside of the Richmond metropolitan area. The accident left him with life-threatening injuries, and he was hospitalized under police custody.
Following the investigation, Willie G. Williams III was charged with a litany of serious offenses, including first-degree murder, breaking and entering with the intent to commit murder, malicious wounding, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The case proceeded through the Chesterfield County court system, culminating in a conviction. For his role in the violent break-in and deadly shooting, Williams was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 66 years, ensuring he would not have the opportunity to harm anyone else. The severe sentence brought a measure of closure to the family of William Simpson and the community shaken by the violent loss of a young life.
