A jury in Cherokee County has sentenced a man to spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was found guilty of murdering his wife and attempting to kill her teenage son in a shocking case that has left the community shaken.
Kelvin Demond Williams, 48, was convicted on all 13 charges, including malice murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and multiple firearm offenses. Jurors reached a verdict in under an hour.
A judge handed down a sentence of life in prison without parole, along with an additional 100 years and 12 months.
Crime Captured on Video
The tragic incident occurred on July 13, 2025, inside the family’s home in the Woodstock area, where 48-year-old Tenisha Williams was fatally shot.
Investigators revealed that home security footage documented the horrifying sequence of events, including the chilling moment after the shooting when the accused could be heard asking, “You dead?”
Teen Son’s Desperate 911 Call
At the time of the attack, the couple’s 16-year-old son was inside the home. Authorities say he hid in his bedroom and called 911, telling dispatchers that his stepfather had shot his mother and fired at him.
The teen warned that the suspect might be reloading a weapon, while his younger brother, just four years old, was asleep in another room.
Sequence of Violence
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect first fired at the teenager but missed. As the teen ran for safety, additional shots were fired in his direction.
Moments later, the gunman reportedly turned his attention to his wife, who had been cornered in the kitchen. He then fired the fatal shot that ended her life.
Arrest at the Scene
When deputies arrived at the home, they found Kelvin Williams standing between the house and an open garage, calmly smoking a cigarette.
Authorities said he complied with orders after several commands and was taken into custody without further incident.
Inside the home, officers found Tenisha Williams dead on the kitchen floor. The firearm used in the shooting was recovered from the kitchen island.
Evidence and Testimony
During the trial, jurors reviewed extensive evidence, including:
- Home security footage
- The teen’s 911 call
- Police body camera recordings
- Jail phone conversations
A total of 13 witnesses testified throughout the proceedings.
Pattern of Abuse Revealed
Prosecutors argued that the killing was the result of a long-standing pattern of control and abuse within the relationship.
They told the court that Kelvin Williams closely monitored his wife’s movements and limited her contact with family members. On the day of the shooting, he allegedly forced her to purchase and load the weapon used in the attack.
Family members also spoke in court, describing years of abuse and the emotional toll it had taken.
Impact on the Children
Following the incident, both children were safely removed from the home. A close family friend has since stepped in to care for them, pledging to provide stability and support.
Before issuing the sentence, the judge described the harm caused by the crime as “unfathomable” and ordered that the defendant have no contact with the children or their relatives.
A Community Left in Shock
District Attorney Susan Treadaway said the case has had a lasting impact, especially on the children who witnessed the violence.
The tragedy has left deep scars on the family and the wider community, serving as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
