Akeem Williams

Akeem Williams, a former standout college basketball player remembered by friends as a loving "life of the party," was shot and killed in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 10, 2024. The 28-year-old Black / African American man, who once had dreams of playing professionally, was the victim of a violent altercation at an after-hours party.

Originally from Brockton, Massachusetts, Akeem was one of three children of Shirly and Orson Williams. He made a name for himself as a gifted basketball player. After playing for The Winchendon School, he became a star guard at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. A psychology major, Akeem was a dominant force for the River Hawks, emerging as the team's leading scorer for three consecutive seasons and setting the university's freshman scoring record with 546 points. His talent earned him numerous accolades, including First Team All-Conference honors in the Northeast-10. He aspired to play professionally after graduation, and his biggest influences were his parents and NBA stars Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade.

The incident that claimed his life unfolded in the early morning hours, shortly before 5 a.m., at a residence in the 600 block of Garden Street. According to the Hartford Police Department, a large gathering was taking place in the basement and upstairs of the home. Investigators believe a fight broke out in the basement, which led to a man, later identified as 36-year-old Adrian Easterling of Hartford, opening fire.

Akeem Williams was shot and killed during this initial burst of violence. A second man was also wounded but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. According to one witness, the confrontation began when Easterling, wearing a mask, attempted to rob someone at the party. After shooting Williams, Easterling was himself shot and killed by a different person at the gathering.

When police arrived at 641 Garden Street, they found three men with gunshot wounds. Akeem and Easterling were pronounced dead at the scene. The third victim was transported to a local hospital. The man who shot Easterling remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators. Hartford Police stated that they believed the second shooting was an act to prevent further harm to others at the party.

The investigation was handled by the Hartford Police Department's Major Crimes and Crime Scene divisions. The man who shot Easterling told reporters he acted in self-defense after witnessing Easterling shoot his friend, Akeem. He explained that Easterling had tried to rob him while he was selling hot meals to partygoers. As of February 2024, no charges had been filed in connection with the shootings, and the case was classified as solved with the death of the primary suspect, Adrian Easterling. Akeem's death was the third homicide in the city of Hartford that year.

In the wake of the violence, neighbors and community activists on Garden Street expressed their fear and frustration over the frequency of violent crime in their neighborhood, calling for action and organizing a 24/7 block watch. Friends and loved ones remembered Akeem, sometimes known as "2 Teddy," for his bright smile and vibrant personality. Two GoFundMe campaigns were organized to support his family.