Thursday, June 6, 2024

Pottsville Police Arrest Suspect Who Fired Gun During Domestic Dispute



A Pottsville man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison for allegedly firing a gun during a domestic incident Wednesday evening.

According to Pottsville Police, on Wednesday, June 5th, 2024, around 6:00pm, police units were dispatched to 811 West Race Street for shots fired call and that female is screaming in the street "he shot my baby".

Upon arrival, Units made contact with the female victim outside the residence who advised police that her now ex-boyfriend Kenneth Williams, 47, of Pottsville, fired a handgun inside the residence and that he fled east on Speacht street. Officers cleared the residence and Williams was not inside.

Officers then spoke to the victim who told police she told Williams that she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with him while they were in the kitchen area of the residence. 

The victim said that Williams became angry which he then proceeded to dump alcohol on her and pointed a black handgun in her face. While pointing the firearm in her face Williams stated, "I’m going to follow you". The victim stated that Williams then pointed the black handgun to the side of head of her 1-year-old son while the child was sitting a chair and stated, "don't think, I'll hit him too". Williams then entered the kitchen.

The victim grabbed her 2-year-old daughter and faced away from the kitchen and was standing in the doorway with her daughter next to her side. Victim said while she was standing next to her daughter in the doorway and she heard a very loud bang and her ears started to ring. The victim grabbed her children and sprinted outside through the front door of the residence screaming for neighbors to call 911.

A witness told police she only saw Williams point the firearm at the 1-year-old child which she said she screamed at Williams for. One witness said after she heard the loud bang that Williams came outside and fled the scene on foot. Officers spoke to multiple neighbors in the area who stated that they heard a gunshot come from the residence and that two males fled east on Speacht Street. One of the neighbors saw Williams drop a firearm on Speacht Street and came back for the firearm.

The victim stated the firearm was a black handgun believed to be a 9mm or 45 caliber which she believed due to Williams always having the firearm on his person. While searching the kitchen, officers located a hole from a projectile in the kitchen wall that continued into the dining room wall traveling into a cabinet. The bullet impacted the wall in close proximity to the victim and her child.

Officers and detectives located the projectile. At 9:30pm, Wednesday, units were dispatched back 811 West Race Street for a report of a Williams being in a dark colored jeep at the rear of the residence. 

Upon arrival, Officers made contact with the vehicle owner. While speaking with the vehicle owner officers saw dark colored handgun in plain view on front passenger side of the floor. The vehicle owner allowed officers to retrieve the firearm. The vehicle owner told officers she only gave Williams a ride to the residence and that the firearm was not there prior to Williams getting inside.

The firearm was found to be semi-automatic 9mm handgun dark in colored with an extended magazine. The gun had an active jam with a spent 9mm casing stuck inside of it.

Officers were granted permission from the home owner to search the residence. While searching the residence officers located Williams in basement and placed him into custody.

Due the above facts and circumstances, Ptlm. Fanelli requested a warrant of arrest for Kenneth J. Williams Sr. charging him with 3 counts of aggravated assault, 3 counts of simple assault, 3 counts of harassment, 1 count of terroristic threats pursuant to section 2711 domestic violence as well 1 count of person not to possess a firearm, 1 count of firearms not to be carried without a license, and 1 count of discharging of a firearm into an occupied structure. 

Williams was taken into custody and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Reiley and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $75,000 straight cash bail.