TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The 17-year-old suspect charged in connection to a shooting that occurred on Interstate 10 in Tallahassee Friday, was denied bond Thursday morning during his first court appearance.
Jakhari Williams, 17, faces three counts of attempted murder, four counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle and a firearm possession by a delinquent charge in the shooting that left two people shot in the head, according to court records.
Jakhari Williams(Leon County Jail)
Earlier this week, State Attorney Jack Campbell told WCTV that the teen will be charged as an adult.
Williams’ arrest papers, obtained by WCTV Thursday morning, revealed new details on how the incident transpired Friday afternoon.
Investigators say Williams was trying to kill someone who insulted one of his dead family members. He was riding with a friend on Capital Circle Northwest Friday afternoon when he saw the man who allegedly made the insult, the court records revealed.
Shortly after, Williams’ friend said the 17-year-old asked him to follow the man’s vehicle, leading to them following the vehicle to the I-10 off-ramp at Thomasville Road, the police papers wrote.
Williams’ friend was both the driver and is now a “confidential witness” cooperating with law enforcement.
“(Williams) put the upper half of his body out of the window as they passed the blue Honda in the right lane and began firing the pistol multiple times west, back up the off ramp in the direction of the blue Honda,” the driver told investigators.
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The witness even told Williams not to shoot because a sheriff’s deputy was right there assisting another truck. But “(Williams) told (the witness) that he did not care, (Williams) made a statement how (the victim) insulted his dead family member and rolled the window down” before shooting.
As a result, the man and a woman in another car were both shot in the head, according to the court documents. The man and woman are both expected to recover.
A LCSO spokesperson did not return a text asking for a specific update on their condition.
One of the victims, despite being shot in the head, was able to make a U-turn and go the wrong way down the interstate to flag down that deputy who was helping another stranded motorist.
The other victim was taken to TMH by her husband. Bullets also hit a third car nearby.
Williams was transported from a juvenile detention center to the Leon County jail on Thursday, where he also faced a judge for the first time.
In an emotional hearing, Judge LaShawn Riggans denied Williams bond pending an “Arthur Hearing.” That hearing is like a small trial where a judge will take a closer look at granting bond.
“If these (allegations) are true, I would find that he is a complete and utter danger to society, to recklessly hold out a firearm and to just shoot – not caring or having any type of situational awareness of those that may be impacted is very concerning for this court,” the judge said. A”nd again, he is innocent until proven guilty, but this court is not willing to risk releasing him pending an Arthur (hearing).”
Williams mother appeared at the court date, appearing confused why he was in adult court.
She said her son is mentally ill, and she apologized on his behalf.
“I’m just, I’m sick and I know that it happened. I do,” Williams’ mother said. “I apologize, he apologized (and) everything. My son has difficult, so much mental illness, so much he’s been crying out for help.”
Judge Riggans said it was not the mother’s fault, and asked her to provide information to the public defender’s office who was provisionally appointed to represent Williams.
The Williams family indicated they may also retain a private lawyer.
“I understand that he is a juvenile in age but he’s being charged as an adult and so that kind of changes things where you don’t go through the normal juvenile process,” the judge said.
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