Former Maryland Football Player Arrested in Shooting Incident
DeLand, Florida – Avantae Williams, a 24-year-old former Maryland football player, was arrested early Saturday morning in connection with the shooting death of a man at a local bar. He has been charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and is currently held without bail.
According to the DeLand Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting around 1:30 a.m. Witnesses indicated that a fight broke out among several men, during which Williams allegedly drew a weapon and opened fire. Keshod Harris, 32, was struck multiple times in the chest and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. A bartender suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and was treated at the scene.
Williams was described as a four-star recruit in high school and was considered one of the nation’s top safeties. He played two seasons at the University of Miami, where he tallied 27 tackles and one interception over 17 games. His college career was marred by off-field issues, including being dismissed from Miami in 2021 after an arrest related to charges that were later dropped.
In 2023, Williams transferred to the University of Maryland, participating in five games and contributing three tackles as the team finished with an 8-5 record.
The Terps have declined to comment on the situation. The investigation into the incident continues, with authorities working diligently to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.
For more updates, contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com or call 410-332-6200.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
