Demorio Williams, 27, was shot and killed in broad daylight on the streets of East Vallejo, California, on September 21, 2017. His killing was described as part of a wave of gang-related violence in the area and investigators say he was targeted by members of the 200 Westwood criminal street gang.

The Solano County District Attorney filed an indictment in November 2018 charging Tiquon Ramon Hicks Jr., Nickolas Howland, and Steven Sanderson in connection with Williams’ murder. Prosecutors argued the killing was retaliatory after an allegation that Williams had stolen a gun from Howland. Charges included gang-related firearm use and other gang enhancements.

Hicks was tried separately and convicted by a jury of second-degree murder and received a sentence of over 27 years in state prison, along with convictions for possession of a firearm by a felon and engaging in street terrorism. Howland pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter, including the killing of Williams, and was sentenced to 18 years and four months; Sanderson accepted a plea and was sentenced to 24 years and four months.

Did anyone in East Vallejo at the time notice anything about tensions involving the 200 Westwood gang that could shed light on the killings?