After questioning around 60 witnesses on a daily basis for three weeks and receiving help from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Indianola Police Department would still like help from the public in solving the shooting death of 23-year-old Beatrice Williams last March.
Williams lost her life at a party that lasted into the early morning hours of March 1 a year ago.
At the time of her passing, Williams was a correctional officer at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.
Family and friends remembered her for her jokes and fun nature in a tribute The E-T did last year.
One year later, those friends and family members are still seeking justice.
By all accounts, she was an innocent bystander struck in a hail of gunfire that started when a vehicle pulled up that was not associated with the party, according to reports at the time.
“Looking at the scene, I knew I was going to need outside help,” said IPD Investigator Irish Johnson.
This was a scene that was scattered with over fifty rounds that included different calibers.
“It was hard to pinpoint who did what because there were so many different people shooting that night,” said Johnson.
One witness told The E-T last year it was like “fire in the sky.”
Johnson contacted MBI to assist with Williams’ case due to the complexities of the crime scene.
“Everything leads us back to ground zero,” said Johnson.
Investigators believe a fight that broke out inside of the building that morning, leading to a bodyguard firing a warning shot. Soon after there was gunfire taking place outside of the party where Williams was fatally shot in the chest.
“She was an innocent individual that got caught up in the crossfire,” said Johnson.
The investigation is ongoing and MBI is still assisting the IPD with evidence as it pertains to that night. They collected phones from individuals in an effort to receive additional information.
“We’re waiting on him to get back in touch with us in reference to the phones that he still has,” said Johnson.
Johnson hopes the phones and other evidence will eventually provide answers.
“This incident here haunted me so, I had a lot of sleepless nights because so much happened that night,” said Johnson. “I pray that eventually the phones, the messages that he’s pulling off of those phones, will pinpoint somebody.”
If anyone has additional information, they can contact the Indianola Police Department at (662) 887-1811.
