At 10:30 AM on April 14, 2003, two armed men entered the school gymnasium of John McDonogh High SchoolinNew Orleans, Louisiana, United States and executed Jonathan "Caveman" Williams, an American football player.
The killers entered the school property via gaps in the fence. Immediately after students and faculty entered the gymnasium, the killers entered and fired at least 18 times, shattering Williams' face and killing him before he could use his handgun, hidden in his waistband.[1] The bullets injured three neighboring girls. A stampede of students trampled a pregnant girl.[2][3][4]
The courts found that Steven Williams (not related to Jonathan Williams) and James Tate directly committed the shootings while Raymond Brown, Tyrone Crump, Herbert Everett, and Michelle Fulton conspired in the killing. The two killers believed that Williams conspired in the death of Hillard "Head" Smith, Brown's cousin.[1]
The court system convicted Steven Williams of second degree murder and received a life sentence. Tate pleaded guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to commit second degree murder and received a 15-year sentence. Brown plead guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit second degree murder and received nine years. Crump plead guilty to accessory after the fact and received five years. Everett plead guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit second degree murder and received five years. Fulton plead guilty to the same charge as Everett and Brown and received five years.[1]
