Kameron Williams sentenced to life in prison for the 2023 murder of Dapeytric Coleman

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Kameron Williams was found guilty this afternoon in his second trial for the 2023 murder of Dapeytric Coleman. Judge James Chaney sentenced Williams to life in prison shortly after the jury returned the verdict, which came about four hours into deliberations.

Williams’ first trial ended in a hung jury.

The three-day trial went on to determine if Kameron Williams killed Coleman in cold blood or it was in self-defense as his defense claimed. Assistant DA Michael Warren was the lead prosecutor on the case and he was assisted by ADA Branan Southerland. Williams was represented by defense attorney Eugene Perrier.

Back in June of 2023, Williams shot Coleman in the back seven times, which consisted of several exit wounds. The incident started on a basketball court on Martha Street where the two began arguing over a basketball game. 

Williams was gambling with his friend, Johnathan Phelps when Coleman was described as trash-talking during the game. An argument broke out between Williams and Coleman for over 10 minutes until Williams went to his vehicle and got a loaded pistol.

After another verbal exchange, Williams was still the only one of the two who was armed. Coleman then went to another friend, James Allen, who was on the scene, and grabbed his pistol which is when Williams shot him seven times in the back. Williams was also shot in the foot during the incident.

ADA Warren stated that Williams was the aggressor who introduced a loaded firearm to the scene when he didn’t have to.

“His own brother stated that he didn’t have to pull that gun,” Warren told the jury. “Don’t believe the lies, believe your eyes.”

Defense Attorney Eugene Perrier argued that Coleman was the aggressor who was influenced by alcohol and ecstasy.

Many individuals testified at the trial including Jerold Hayes(VPD), Daniel Harris(VPD), Shamar Williams(Kameron’s brother), Kameron Williams, Nick Carson(VPD), and other key witnesses.

During the court trial, Williams testified that Coleman threatened him several times during the incident just before the shooting. Southerland pointed out that the only threat that was made was when Coleman said “I’ll slap you in the face with some money.”

The state rested its case at 10:10 a.m. on Thursday and left the fate of the trial in the jury’s hands. At around 2:30 p.m., the guilty verdict came in and he was sentenced to life.

“It’s an unfortunate circumstance that it turned out this way, but I’m glad that we can get justice for the family of Mr. Coleman, but I’m begging the community to please put the guns down,” ADA Warren said.