An Indiana man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the ruthless killing of a Michigan man, as prosecutors describe it as an execution driven by jealousy. The victim was caring for children at a residence when the tragedy unfolded.
On Wednesday, Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello handed down a life sentence without parole to Zakeem F. Jones for the murder of 33-year-old Devon L. Williams. According to court documents, this grim verdict ensures Jones remains in state custody indefinitely.
The sentence comes after a jury found Jones guilty in January of first-degree premeditated murder and several firearm offenses related to the March 2023 incident. In addition to life imprisonment, Jones received three consecutive two-year sentences and a $1,218 fine.
During the sentencing, Jones exhibited minimal emotion, responding to the opportunity to address the court with a nonchalant demeanor, according to a report from MLive.
“I’m cool, man,” Jones remarked. “It is what it is.”
His indifferent comment drew strong disapproval from the victim’s family. Shontele Lockett, Williams’ mother, joined the proceedings via Zoom, passionately advocating for the maximum penalty.
“He needs to get as much time as is permitted,” she said. “He doesn’t show any remorse for anything that he did. He didn’t know the person he killed. He just chose to kill somebody and make jokes about it.”
After the sentence was imposed, applause broke out in the courtroom gallery before the judge restored order.
Prosecutors said the killing was fueled by jealousy, arguing Jones sought to “obliterate the competition” after discovering messages between his fiancee and her former partner.
The case traces back to March 29, 2023, when Jones and his then-fiancee, Markeisha R. Burns-Cross, traveled from Indiana to mid-Michigan for a family event. Burns-Cross had previously dated Williams and the two shared a child.
The couple spent the evening drinking in Bay City before an argument erupted over Jones reportedly speaking to other women, according to testimony from Burns-Cross. Angry with Jones, Burns-Cross then began texting Williams and the two made plans to meet.
The dispute escalated when Jones went through Burns-Cross’ phone and found the messages between her and Williams. Enraged, Jones ordered her to contact Williams and direct him to meet.
The pair then drove to Williams’ duplex in Buena Vista Township.
At the time, Williams was inside the home babysitting children.
Outside, Jones armed himself with a 9 mm handgun and demanded that Burns-Cross get Williams to come out. When that didn’t happen, he followed his girlfriend inside.
Williams was seated at a table when he realized Jones had entered.
“[Williams] looks up and all of a sudden his facial expression changes,” a prosecutor said during trial, per MLive. “He sees Zakeem in that moment.”
Williams attempted to flee, but the front door was locked.
“There’s no escape,” the prosecutor added.
Burns-Cross testified that she heard “pop, pop, pop” and felt heat in front of her face from the shots fired by Jones, MLive previously reported. Williams was struck several times.
Investigators later recovered numerous shell casings and bullet fragments from the scene. Williams was found on the floor, struggling to breathe, and later died at a hospital.
“Devon Williams was unarmed in his own home and had no idea what was coming,” the prosecutor said. “He lost a battle he didn’t know he was fighting … in a cold-blooded, premeditated ambush.”
Jones and his girlfriend fled the scene and returned to Indiana the next day.
He remained at large for more than a year before authorities took him into custody in September 2024 as he was being released from prison in Illinois on an unrelated case. He was then extradited to Michigan to face charges.
Burns-Cross is currently facing five criminal charges, including first-degree murder. She reportedly testified against Jones without a plea deal in place. She is currently scheduled to appear in court on April 15 for a settlement conference, records show.
