TUSKEGEE, Ala. — A 20-year-old man, Jeremiah Williams, has been charged in federal court with the illegal possession of a machine gun. This follows an incident at Tuskegee University where gunfire erupted from a vehicle within a crowd, resulting in one fatality and numerous injuries. Relevant court documents link Williams to the university during the chaos that transpired at a homecoming celebration in early November.
Williams was arrested on Thursday, facing serious federal charges, although the investigation leading to his arrest had been ongoing for several months prior and was not initially related to the shooting incident. On the night of the shooting, another individual, Jaquez Myrick, 25, was also apprehended after being found at the university with a Glock pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device. Currently, neither of the men are implicated in the actual shootings. The identity of the person responsible for the death of 18-year-old La’Tavion Johnson, who resided in Troy, Alabama, remains unknown; the coroner confirmed that Johnson was not affiliated with the university.
Attorneys representing both Williams and Myrick have not responded to inquiries regarding the case. Investigations into Williams began during the summer months, stemming from findings that indicated he had been involved in discussions about the creation and distribution of machine gun conversion devices via text messages with another individual. A complaint filed by a special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives indicates that, in late September, law enforcement seized several machine gun conversion devices and a 3D printer from Williams’ residence in Montgomery.
On the day of Williams’ arrest, a federal search warrant executed at his home uncovered an “AR type firearm” showing signs of previous modification with a machine gun conversion device. Prior to his arrest, Williams had shared videos and images online showcasing his white Dodge Charger being driven at Tuskegee around the time of the gunfire. One of the videos included audio of gunshots, although it was not clarified whether those shots were fired from Williams’ vehicle.
In a witness account, shots were reported to have originated from the car driven by Williams. The motivations behind the gunfire remain unclear, but one witness suggested that the shots might have been an ill-fated attempt to clear a path through the crowded gathering. The complaint did not divulge the identity of any shooters associated with the vehicle. Williams has since denied discharging his firearm during the incident, and when questioned about whether passengers in his car had fired weapons, he expressed uncertainty, stating he was focused on driving.
Weapons equipped with conversion devices have been involved in multiple tragic mass shooting scenarios, including a previous incident in Alabama that resulted in four deaths during a teenager’s birthday party and another shooting that left six dead in a Sacramento bar district. Steve Dettelbach, the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, noted that it takes mere seconds to convert a firearm into a machine gun using these devices, highlighting the dangerous potential they represent.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Dr. Mark A. Brown, the president of Tuskegee University, announced the cancellation of classes and the implementation of new security protocols for campus safety. These enhancements include the hiring of additional safety personnel, the installation of new surveillance cameras, and the introduction of permanent metal detectors. Brown emphasized the university’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for students to pursue their education, stating, “It is our responsibility to secure the campus, and we move on so that our students can successfully complete what they came here for: an education.”