Killa City: Deron L. Williams accused of killing Anthony Barnett
Anthony Barnett was found dead in Kensington Street with his pants’ pockets turned inside out on June 29. Cell phone records and DNA from inside Barnett’s pockets led police to suspect 24-year-old Deron L. Williams of killing Barnett, court records say.
Jackson County prosecutors charged Williams Monday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Barnett’s death.
A witness told police that he was hanging out with Barnett when they noticed a Tahoe on Barnett’s security camera. The witness said Barnett called someone on his cell phone, asked “Are you here?” and grabbed a plastic bag and went outside around 4:30 p.m.
Police found Barnett’s body at 4:44 p.m.
Barnett’s girlfriend would later tell police that a man known as “D-dub” drove a Tahoe. Barnett’s girlfriend later identified Williams in a photo as the man she knew as “D-dub.”
Cell phone records showed that the last call made by Barnett was to Williams.
On July 7, Williams spoke with homicide detectives and denied being present at the time of Barnett’s killing. He also denied talking to Barnett before his killing.
Detectives noticed a splint on Williams’ middle finger. Williams told them he was injured by a tool used to remove rust from cars. Detectives spoke with Williams’ doctor who told them that Williams’ “finger was broken in 14 places and could be consistent with a gunshot wound.”
DNA taken from Williams matched DNA inside Barnett’s pockets, court records say.
