In a dramatic turn of events, a Jacksonville man has been found guilty of attempted murder after a violent encounter outside The Avenues mall. The incident, which involved a shocking daytime shooting, reportedly stemmed from a longstanding personal dispute.
The jury, after deliberating for less than three hours, convicted 31-year-old Michael Deshawn Williams Jr. on January 22. Williams now awaits sentencing, where he could potentially face a life sentence for his actions.
The altercation took place on December 1, 2023, around 1:30 p.m., in the bustling parking lot of the Southside Boulevard shopping center. Witnesses watched in horror as the conflict escalated, culminating in Williams allegedly shooting his former friend in the face. Authorities apprehended Williams on January 6, 2024, following the incident.
According to a friend of the victim, the altercation was the result of a fallout between the two men over a woman, an issue that had been simmering for nearly three years. The friend recounted to the police that both he and the victim encountered Williams, known to them only by the nicknames “Mike” or “Ike,” while visiting the mall.
Attempting to reconcile past differences, the victim approached Williams, but the effort quickly turned confrontational. As tensions rose, the exchange devolved into a physical altercation in the parking lot, ultimately leading to the gunfire that left the victim injured. Despite his injuries, the victim managed to re-enter the mall with his friend to seek help, as detailed in the arrest report.
He said the victim tried to talk with Williams to resolve the dispute but was shoved instead, according to the arrest report. They began arguing as they entered the parking lot, until the two got into a shoving match and fight that led to the victim being shot.
A woman said she was parked near the victim’s car and saw him and two other men walking out of the mall together talking like they knew each other but also arguing, according to the arrest report. Once in the parking lot, the victim and suspect began to fight. It carried over to the hood of her car where the suspect got the victim into a headlock of sorts, pulled out a gun and fired one shot into his face. She said the suspect casually walked away and got into a silver Mercedes SUV with a Florida tag.
A detective contacted the victim’s mother the next day and she provided the name of a friend who knows the suspect. That person provided his rap name, Dolly Mike, and a screenshot of a music video with him. That helped investigators identify Williams, according to the report.
On Dec. 6, 2023 at the hospital, the victim was shown some photos. He was still unable to speak but could communicate with hand gestures and writing to identify Williams’ photo, the report said. An arrest warrant was then secured.
Editor’s note: This story was first published by our news partners, The Florida Times-Union.
