On the night of October 27, 2020, 19-year-old Michael Williams was fatally shot in Indianapolis. The incident, which marked the city's 200th homicide of the year, took place in an apartment complex on the city's west side. Officers were initially called to the 3600 block of Lawnview Lane in the El Dorado Apartments for a report of a traffic accident. Upon arrival, they discovered Michael Williams inside his vehicle, which had crashed into a tree line.
He was suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators noted that his foot was still on the gas pedal.
The investigation into the young man's death revealed a tragic story of a planned robbery. According to his mother, Michael had been at home that evening and left after receiving two phone calls. The last person to text him was Dashawn Williams. Surveillance footage from the scene showed Michael's car arriving at the location that had been agreed upon in their final text exchange. Shortly after, an SUV pulled up, and Dashawn Williams exited his vehicle, got into Michael's car briefly, and then returned to the SUV. Dashawn Williams was seen approaching Michael's car again, leading to a brief altercation. Two other individuals then joined Dashawn at the victim's window, and Michael Williams was shot in the head.
In the course of the police investigation, Dashawn Williams confessed that he had intended to rob Michael of a gun. He also admitted to the altercation with the victim. On November 18, 2020, police arrested 19-year-old Nathaniel Williams for his role in the homicide. It was confirmed that the suspect and the victim were not related. Another man, Dashawn Williams, was also charged with murder and robbery. In March, a jury found Nathaniel Williams not guilty. However, in October 2022, a jury convicted Dashawn Williams, then 21, of murder and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. He was scheduled to be sentenced on December 1 of that year.
