Elmarko Fontane Williams Jr., 27, was shot in the torso around 1:30 a.m. on August 3, 2023, near Maple Terrace after a house party and later died at a local hospital. His death was one fatality in a string of shootings over a 48-hour period in Battle Creek that authorities say were targeted and tied to an ongoing dispute between two groups. Police did not believe the violence posed a specific threat to the general public and said they were taking steps to quell the feud.

Known as Marko, Williams graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 2014. He was a devoted father to three daughters, a youth mentor in basketball and life skills, a volunteer with tutoring and food distribution programs and the Rise Youth Organization, and worked for Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity and Target Distribution while caring for his grandfather. An arrest was made in the Washington Heights area on suspicion of attempted retaliation and multiple felony charges, but no further arrests directly connected to Williams death had been announced at the time of the reports.

Anyone who knew Marko or has information about the shootings is asked to contact the Battle Creek Police Department.