Robert Thomas 'Bobby' Williams, a 72-year-old male, tragically lost his life on Friday, May 31, 2019, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. A long-time employee of the City of Virginia Beach, he had dedicated 41 years of service, most recently as a Special Projects Coordinator in the Public Utilities department. His death was a result of the mass shooting that occurred at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center.
Born in Norwalk, Ohio, Williams was a U.S.
Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He was a graduate of Granby High School and later earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Wesleyan College in 1975. He was described as a loving and extraordinary husband, father, and grandfather who was deeply dedicated to his family.
The perpetrator of the mass shooting was identified as DeWayne Craddock, a fellow city employee. Craddock opened fire within the municipal building, killing Williams and eleven other people before he was killed in a shootout with police. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in Virginia since 2007. There is no information to suggest any other suspects were involved in the tragic event that took the life of Robert Thomas Bobby Williams and the other victims.
