Shakeo Williams

Shakeo Williams was a 21-year-old Black woman with a bright future and a desire to help others. Described by her family as a beautiful sister with goals and ambition, she was studying to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and had plans to ultimately become a nurse. Her life was cut short on the cold evening of January 26, 2022, in her hometown of Annapolis, Maryland.

At approximately 9:10 p.m., Annapolis Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1100 block of Madison Street, in the Harbour House community. They arrived to find Shakeo suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death, the only homicide in Annapolis that year, shocked the community. Mayor Gavin Buckley condemned the killing, stating, "It is absolutely intolerable that people resolve their problems with such violence," and vowed that the perpetrator would be held to account. A GoFundMe was established to help her grieving family with funeral costs.

For more than a year, the case remained unsolved, with no arrests made. Annapolis Police detectives continued to investigate, and in November 2023, they announced a breakthrough. Two individuals were arrested in connection with Shakeo's death: Damisi Jones, a 22-year-old man from Severn, and a 17-year-old male from Annapolis.

Both suspects were charged with a range of offenses, including first and second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and multiple firearm violations. Following his arrest, a judge ordered that Jones be held without bond at the Jennifer Road Detention Center.

The legal process for Damisi Jones has since concluded. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for his role in the shooting of Shakeo Williams. In December 2025, Jones was sentenced to life in prison with all but 25 years suspended.