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USA Today
07-05-2025
- USA Today
Former Miami, Maryland S Avantae Williams charged with second-degree murder
Former Miami, Maryland S Avantae Williams charged with second-degree murder Show Caption Hide Caption Former Miami Hurricane, Maryland Terrapin charged with Florida murder Avantae Williams, who played football at Miami and Maryland, was in a Volusia County Jail after DeLand police charged him in a fatal May 3 shooting. Former Miami and Maryland football player Avantae Williams has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to a shooting on Saturday, according to a DeLand Police Department news release. Williams — a former top-50 ranked prospect out of DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida — turned himself in to police at a lawyer's office on Monday with no incident, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. As of Wednesday morning, Williams was in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bond, per the News-Journal. Per the DeLand news release, officers responded to a shooting around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday at a bar in DeLand, Florida. Witnesses told investigators a fistfight broke out between several people in the bar, before one of the men pulled out a firearm and started shooting, according to the news release. Police said Keshod Harris, 32, was shot and killed. A bartender was also injured in the shooting, sustaining gunshot wounds to both hands. They were treated with non-life-threatening injuries. As reported by the News-Journal, Harris got into an argument at 1:25 a.m. at McCabe's Bar — less than 20 minutes from Stetson University in Florida — with Damian "D" Ramsey, who was there with Williams and another man, per an affidavit. Harris, Williams and Ramsey had previously left a celebration at the Chisholm Community Center after Harris had arrived there and argued with his girlfriend. The News-Journal reported that Ramsey had previously tried "to be with her romantically," before Saturday's shooting. Per the News-Journal, Harris and Williams began fighting, with Harris punching Williams in the jaw. Ramsey then stood up and punched Harris in the back of the head. Williams pushed Harris away, grabbed a gun from his right pocket and fired into Harris' left rib cage. Williams reportedly ran past Harris, who was motionless on the ground, and shot him in the back before running out of the bar with Ramsey. Harris was pronounced dead after he was transported to AdventHealth DeLand. The News-Journal reported that an autopsy of Harris revealed he had been shot seven times, with six bullets remaining in his body. Williams fled the scene with Ramsey. The News-Journal reports a witness identified Williams from a photo lineup, and that police had picked up an iPhone that Williams set down when he fought Harris. The News-Journal also notes that police used a license plate detection system to identify the vehicle in which Williams left the scene. It was determined to belong to an "associate" of Williams, and was seized as evidence. Williams was the No. 45-ranked player and No. 2 safety of the 2020 recruiting class, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings. He had 30 total tackles in his career across two seasons at Miami and another at Maryland. He last played in 2023.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Deltona teenager admits to trying to poison stepmom with bleach, affidavit states
A 77-year-old Deltona woman poured herself a glass of milk, took a sip and immediately smelled an unusual odor and sensed 'an intense chemical taste.' It turns out the milk had been spiked with bleach. The culprit: her 17-year-old stepson, according to a charging affidavit from the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The stepson was charged with attempted felony murder; aggravated abuse of an elderly person; and poisoning food or water, according to the affidavit. Deputies found that the milk was bubbling when they checked the container. And deputies located the 17-year-old hiding with a dog in a closet in the house on Brickell Drive. The News-Journal is not publishing the teen's name, because he has not been charged as an adult. The investigation began April 19 with a call from the 17-year-old's brother. Deputies responded to the home, where the brother told them his mother and brother had been 'feuding.' He said the 17-year-old two days earlier had threatened to punch and break the stepmother's neck, according to the affidavits. The woman told deputies she was fearful when the teen lunged at her with a raised fist, the affidavit stated. The 17-year-old was charged with assault on a person 65 or older in that case. The 17-year-old is 6-feet-tall and weighs 160 pounds, according to the affidavit. The stepmother is the only person in the home who drinks milk. She told deputies she suspected the stepson poisoned the milk due to their recent conflicts. She did not report immediate symptoms. Deltona Fire and Rescue transported her to a hospital. Deputies checked the milk container, opened it and noticed it was bubbling and had a 'potent chemical odor' consistent with bleach, the affidavit stated. Deputies found a bottle of Clorox bleach in the laundry room. A clear outline in the dust showed the bottle had been recently moved. The label warned of the dangerous chemical, including that it was harmful if swallowed. When deputies questioned the 17-year-old, he admitted to the deed, according to the affidavit. The teenager said he took the bleach from the laundry room, opened the milk container and poured the chemical into the milk, the affidavit stated. He said he could not confirm the quantity but admitted knowing it could harm someone, the affidavit stated. He said he was angry at the stepmother and he no longer wanted to live in the house the affidavit stated. The 17-year-old said he intended to make the stepmother sick, according to the affidavit. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona teen accused of trying to poison stepmom with bleach
USA Today
06-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Deltona mayor says city funds were used only for his attendance at U.S. mayors conference
Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila Jr., whose city-funded trip to Washington, D.C., last month included events surrounding the inauguration of President Donald Trump, has broken his silence, releasing a statement on social media. Two days after the City Commission voted to formally consider sanctions against him in a quasi-judicial trial to be held Feb. 17, Avila – who wasn't at that meeting – offered his side of the story, through a third-person news release. "Mayor Avila has been falsely attacked for representing the City of Deltona in Washington, D.C., last week (sic). ... Mayor Avila attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in D.C. last week (sic), which occurred Jan. 17-19." The release states Avila met with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and his staff "regarding the crucial $44 million expenditure that passed the U.S. House last year for the benefit of the City of Deltona, in order to ensure his continued support when it arises this year in the U.S. Senate." It wasn't immediately clear what $44 million Avila was referencing. The News-Journal has reached out to U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, whose district includes Deltona, as well as Avila and the city, and will update this story if an explanation is offered. In a News-Journal story published Monday, Commissioner Dori Howington said she learned from the city manager the purpose of Avila's trip was "relationship building." "I do know (the mayor) can sit down with Sen. Rick Scott here in Florida. He can sit down with (U.S. Rep.) Cory Mills here in Florida," she said at the time. "He does not need to travel to Washington, D.C., during the most expensive time for travel in Washington, D.C." Avila charges taxpayers nearly $1,700 for D.C. hotel stay A public-records request to Deltona produced Avila's Hyatt Place hotel bill for $1,687.30, for a stay from Jan. 16 to 20. The records also include a log showing he took a city vehicle from 9:25 p.m. Jan. 15 to 6:56 p.m. Jan. 22, and he submitted two receipts for gas, totaling $63.55. Avila said in the statement that the hotel expense "covered only the dates of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and not the inauguration ceremony." However, in his Facebook Reel posted Jan. 17, he said he and his wife were in town for the Presidential Inauguration and that they received two tickets for the event. He also said they had "a couple of inaugural balls to go to." The conference ended at midday on Jan. 19, while the inauguration was on the 20th. Avila also said he decided to drive the city vehicle to Washington, rather than fly, "because it was a more cost-effective option compared to a flight, which was upwards of $850 per ticket during that time period. The decision alone saved the City of Deltona nearly $1,000+ in funds." While some social-media commenters suggested Avila spent city money on clothes and other personal items for himself and his wife, the mayor denied that. He also said that he did not have a city credit card, which City Manager Dale "Doc" Dougherty had also said was untrue. Avila did not address the City Commission's chief concern, that he had violated a 2014 travel policy requiring any out-of-state travel by a commissioner or mayor to be approved ahead of time by the Commission. While commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to consider sanctions, including a no-confidence vote, at a hearing, Avila was absent. He was in Tallahassee using the city vehicle to meet with state lawmakers. Facebook posts also showed Avila meeting with former Gov. Jeb Bush, along with Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie and Edgewater Mayor Diezel DePew, among others. The Deltona commission also voted 4-1 to suspend the mayor's use of the city vehicle and any further travel until the Feb. 17 hearing. Yet Avila says his explanation should make all of that go away. "With these important facts now public, Mayor Avila is confident that his fellow city commissioners will now rescind the motion for an unnecessary and very costly quasi-judicial hearing regarding the legal authority of he, or any other city leader, to travel to important events on the city's behalf, the statement reads. "This travel authority is essential to communicating Deltona's needs and future requests."
