Jeffrey Demond Williams

Case record

Background

Jeffrey Demond Williams was born on 12/16/1975. Williams was received into custody on 03/29/2000 at the age of 24. Williams had an education level of 03/29/2000 (education level recorded as “03/29/2000”). Williams had served in the US Navy Brig in 1995, where he was confined 30 days for Insubordination and Altercation with Supervisor.

Other details

• Name: Jeffrey Demond Williams
• TDCJ Number: 999350
• Date of Birth: 12/16/1975
• Date Received: 03/29/2000
• Age (when Received): 24
• Education Level: 03/29/2000 (as recorded)
• County: Harris
• State: Texas
• Race: black male
• Hair Color: black
• Gender: male
• Height: 5 feet 8 inches
• Weight: 153 lbs.
• Eye Color: brown
• Prior Occupation: Harris Texas laborer
• Prior Prison Record: 1995, confined 30 days in the US Navy Brig, Yokosusa, Japan for Insubordination and Altercation with Supervisor
• Co-defendants: none
• Prior victim: a 30 year old white male police officer, named Troy Blando (Houston policeman), 39 at the time of the murder.

The offence

On 5/19/1999, Williams was driving a stolen vehicle. A 30 year old white male police officer stopped the vehicle and attempted to arrest Williams. Williams shot the officer in the chest and fled the scene. The officer was able to get back to his car and radio for help, but died as a result of the gunshot.

Williams was arrested a short time later, handcuffs dangling from one wrist. Williams said he believed Blando was a robber, and that he shot the officer in self-defense.

Investigation

The police officer stopped Williams’s stolen vehicle and attempted to arrest him. After Williams shot the officer in the chest, the officer radioed for help before dying from the gunshot.

Arrest

Williams fled the scene after shooting the officer in the chest. Williams was arrested a short time later.

Trial

The case information included an appeal reference indicating proceedings in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: Jeffrey Demond Williams v. Nathaniel Quarterman and Jeffrey Demond Williams v. Rick Thaler.

Sentencing

Williams was sentenced to death on March 29, 2000.

Appeals

A statement in the case summary described arguments about ineffective counsel:

• Williams’s final statement was delivered to a witness room filled with law enforcement and state officials.
• Williams’s attorney argued that lawyers who previously represented Williams had been ineffective.
• An appeals attorney was charged with having “cut and pasted” his petition and filing it three days after the deadline.
• Virginia attorney Jonathan Sheldon argued that courts should revisit Williams’s claim of ineffective counsel under a recent high court ruling.
• Sheldon contended that Williams’s first attorney failed to call witnesses in the punishment phase who would have testified that Williams, although not mentally disabled, was unable to function in society.
• Williams’s petition said Williams was unable to hold jobs or to perform basic tasks such as cooking food.

Verbatim statements included:

• Williams accused police: “getting away with murder all the time,”
• Williams’s statements included: “clowns” and accusing them of wantonly killing “innocent kids.”
• Williams said: “When I kill one or pop one, ya'll want to kill me,”
• Williams also said: “God has a plan for everything,” and “I love everyone that loves me. I ain't got no love for anyone that don't love me.”
• The killer’s attorney said: “cut and pasted”
• An appeals attorney was described as having “cut and pasted” his petition, then filed it three days after the deadline.
• Ray Hunt said: “The fact that to the end he continued to ridicule police officers shows what a thug he was,” and “I have no sympathy for him. I have sympathy for his family, but not for him.”
• Ray Hunt also said: “It is tragic someone would end a life like this with a single shot,” and “God has a plan' ” was included as part of the account alongside Williams’s statements.

Outcome

Jeffrey Demond Williams was executed by lethal injection on May 15, 2013. The lethal dose was administered at 6:10 p.m. Williams was declared dead at 6:36 p.m. Williams was executed for the May 19, 1999, murder of Houston policeman Troy Blando, 39.

Aftermath

A response to the execution included statements attributed to Ray Hunt, president of the Houston Police Officers Union. Hunt stated he had sympathy for the family of the murdered officer but not for Williams. Neither family nor friends of Williams or of his victims were present. Williams’s final statement included denunciations of police and accusations that police were “getting away with murder all the time.”