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A Wharton man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for his involvement in a tragic club shooting that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg expressed her sentiments on the matter, stating, “This is yet another example of how gun violence can tear families apart.”
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg emphasized the impact of gun violence on families, stating, “Three young men, one of whom was a completely innocent bystander, were killed when this defendant flouted our laws and avoided every security measure put in place to protect people in that club.”
Demontae Lavon Williams, 28, was found guilty of capital murder by a Harris County jury for the killing of Jailyn Page, 19, Bryce Lee Goddard, 21, and Christopher Donshae Jackson, 22, on October 20, 2020. Williams and another individual were able to bypass security measures and bring guns into the club where the tragic incident occurred.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Meriwether highlighted the loss experienced by the victims' families, stating, “The young men who were killed had families that loved them and had their whole lives ahead of them.”
The jury rejected Williams’ claims of self-defense after hearing evidence that he and his co-defendant had brought guns into the club in anticipation of a confrontation. Williams and the other individual chose to open fire during an argument, resulting in the tragic deaths of the three victims.
The sentencing of the Wharton man to life in prison without parole serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and the importance of upholding laws and security measures to protect individuals in public spaces.