By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Two Williston men have been arrested on charges of premeditated first-degree murder in connection with the Feb. 5 shooting death of a man they grew up with in Williston.
Williston police say Kentavious Brown, 22, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on March 3, and Isaac Williams, 21, turned himself in on Feb. 27 in connection with the slaying of 26-year-old Malik Hall of Williston.
In Florida, premeditated first-degree murder is a capital offense punishable by the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole upon conviction.
Police say the murder is under active investigation and they are unable to release details of everything they know about the case until the probe is completed.
They do know that Hall was seated in his car parked in a driveway at 1111 NE 11th Drive in Williston when 16 rounds from a .223 rifle were fired into the car. Three of the bullets struck the victim, one in the head, killing him.
A .223 rifle used by the military and police officers fire the same high-speed bullet as an AR-15.
Police say they don’t know if the murder was a drive-by shooting or if the shooters were on foot when the rifle was fired into the passenger side of Hall’s car. They know Hall was in his car when he was murdered. A white Ford car drove away from the murder scene.
The suspect vehicle connected to the killing was found abandoned at Cabana Beach Apartments at 1602 SW 31 Terrace, Gainesville, and was recovered by law enforcement.
When City Police Chief Mike Rolls issued a news release on the case Feb. 16, he said the murder was being investigated jointly by his office and the sheriff’s office. The press release identified both suspects in the case and showed their photos.
“So, wannabe gang bangers, drug dealers, burglars, thieves, and all others, this is your official warning – you are not wanted in our communities, and if you choose to stay, look over your shoulders because we are coming,” he said.
On Wednesday, in an interview with Spotlight, Rolls said the murder of anyone results in serious consequences for those involved in the killing, and their victim, but the impacts go much further.
“Your actions will affect not only the person you had issues with, but it also affects the community, it affects your family and your friends – at the end of the day, when you are caught, you will face your consequences in the judicial system and you will be penalized for your actions,” Rolls said. “The impact of this murder has torn families apart in Williston.”
Police say the two men responsible for the murder grew up in the same community with Hall. They all knew each other. They played sports on the same youth teams, although Hall was a little older than the two arrested for killing him.
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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt March 8, 2023; Posted March 8, 2023
