Do you know who murdered Jimmy Williams? In the early hours of Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, the life of Jimmy Ricco Williams Sr., a 49-year-old African-American man, was tragically cut short in Durham, North Carolina. Known to his family as the oldest of eight siblings, he was a brother who was deeply loved and is still profoundly missed. His parents, Marie H. and Aaron Williams, preceded him in death, leaving him to watch over his seven younger siblings.
On that spring night, Jimmy was walking home after spending time at the Bull City Riders Club. The club, established in 1977, holds the distinction of being the oldest chartered Black motorcycle club in North Carolina and has long been a fixture in the Durham community. Jimmy was making his way home along his regular route, a familiar path through the city he knew well.
At approximately 2:10 a.m., as he reached the intersection of Scout Drive and Lodge Street, a fatal confrontation occurred.
According to information gathered by Durham Police Department investigators, Jimmy had been involved in an argument with two men just moments before he was shot. The sound of gunfire shattered the overnight quiet of the neighborhood. When police arrived, they found Jimmy in the intersection, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
Witnesses reported seeing the two men fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting. They were last seen running up Lodge Street in the direction of South Roxboro Street. The only description investigators could obtain was that both suspects were Black males who were wearing hoodies. Despite the passage of time, the specific details of the argument and the motive behind the deadly shooting remain unknown.
The investigation into Jimmy Williams's murder was launched by the Durham Police Department's Homicide Unit. Detectives canvassed the area for evidence and spoke with potential witnesses, but the trail quickly went cold. The two men seen running from the intersection disappeared, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the case. For years, Jimmy's name has been on the city's list of unsolved homicides, a painful reminder for his family that justice has not yet been served.
His surviving siblings—sisters Linda, Charlotte, Barbara, Christine, and Tina, and brothers Aaron and Johnny—were left to mourn a future without their oldest brother. In a memorial tribute, they remembered him with love, writing, "We love you and miss you so much. You are safe now, in His hands. No hurt, or harm will ever come to you again." Their words speak to a deep and lasting grief, a void left by a senseless act of violence.
As of today, the murder of Jimmy Ricco Williams Sr. remains an open and active investigation. The Durham Police Department believes that there are people in the community who hold information that could be critical to solving the case and bringing closure to his family. Investigators continue to ask for the public's help.
A cash reward is available through CrimeStoppers for information that leads to an arrest in this felony case. Callers can remain anonymous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Durham Police Department's Homicide Unit at 919-560-4118 or the CrimeStoppers tip line at 919-683-1200. 
