Meridian quadruple drive-by shooting an act of gang retaliation

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Meridian quadruple drive-by shooting an act of gang retaliation
Whitney Downard / The Meridian Star
Michael Williams, accompanied by Meridian Police Detective Kevin Boyd, enters the Meridian City courtroom Monday for his hearing related to a quadruple shooting earlier this month.
A drive-by shooting near the Highway Village Apartments earlier this month was an act of gang retaliation that wounded four innocent bystanders at a birthday party, police said. 
During the preliminary hearing Monday in Meridian City Court for Michael Williams, 14, of Meridian, police described the events of July 6 when four men were injured in a drive-by shooting at the Wesley House's Playground for Jesus on 8th Avenue. 
Meridian Police Officer Anthony Ball told the court that Williams stated that Kudarrius (D. Tubbs) and Cedmondray (Lewis) picked him up and gave him a gun, telling him that they were seeking retaliation for a gunshot wound one of them had suffered earlier. 
A driver, who faces no charges and has not been named, drove Williams, Tubbs and Lewis to their homes for supplies, such as an AK-15 or 'Chopper' for Tubbs, according to Ball's recounting of Williams' statement.
Ball, part of the Meridian Police Department's Gang Unit, said Tubbs and Lewis wanted to shoot at a crowd celebrating a birthday at the Wesley House's Playground for Jesus, where some Black Disciples (or BD for short) from a rival gang would be.
The shooting, around 7:30 p.m. that Thursday, occurred with children and bystanders present, police said. 
Because Williams was behind the driver, he told Ball he shot over the roof and aimed into the sky, rather than shooting directly into the crowd, Ball said. 
Williams also told Ball that Tubbs and Lewis, while leaving, shot at a white car with three passengers as they left the scene, Ball said. 
After police released his photo following the incident, Williams' turned himself into police and police charged him with three counts of conspiracy, three counts of drive-by shooting and three counts of attempted murder. 
Williams' public defender, Joseph Denson, argued that Williams should not face conspiracy charges because, per the testimony of Williams, Williams never discussed the shooting beforehand. 
"There were four people in the car," Denson said. "The driver had more to do with conspiring than my defendant."
Conspiracy, Denson said, occurred when people agreed to commit a crime but Williams never verbally agreed.
Ball disagreed.
"He agreed to the conspiracy when he shot out that window," Ball said.
The defender also said Williams shot into the air and no evidence contradicts that claim. Because of this, Williams should not be charged with attempted murder but a lesser charge. 
"It's not attempted murder (if he shot in the air) because there was no intent," Denson said. "It would be murder by way of recklessness." 
Ball said the driver had stated that, despite the driver's pushback, Tubbs and Lewis insisted and said 'No, we're going to kill someone today.' "
None of the victims shot were part of the BD gang, Ball testified. 
Ball added that the fourth victim had not been identified to him before he filed the affidavit, hence why there were only three charges.
The court disagreed with the defense's motions and charged Williams with all nine counts but reduced his bond from $270,000 to $150,000 or $20,000 for each attempted murder and drive-by shooting charge and $10,000 for each conspiracy charge.
After the hearing, Williams' mother, Mary Williams, briefly spoke about previous gang encounters.
"Our house has been shot up 16 times. I could have been killed," Mary Williams said.
Williams said she thought the Meridian Police Department should have investigated those reported shootings more seriously.
"We did not deserve to be targeted. It's gang activity. They target the families to continue the cycle of violence," Williams said.
Tubbs, 20, and Lewis, 19, both waived their right to a preliminary hearing and accepted a bond of $270,000 last week.

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