Crime & Safety

Details Emerge in 2010 Killing of Marcus Bates

Garfield Williams, of Norristown, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the Oct. 2010 incident.

According to The Times Herald, what was originally believed to be a more straightforward murder case, was revealed to be less intentional than originally believed after more details in the incident came to light at trial.

Forty one-year-old Norristown man Garfield Williams was originally charged with third-degree murder and illegal weapons possession in the shooting death of Marcus Bates at the Elmwood Elks Lodge on Oct. 10, 2010. Prosecutors reportedly believed the murder to be pre-meditated at first, but discovered that the shooting was the result of an accidental discharge of a weapon during a brawl outside the bar.

Williams was reportedly fighting with several man and was using the gun as a club when it discharged and the bullet struck Bates, who was an innocent bystander. Williams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm. He has not yet been sentenced.

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According to the Herald, Williams wife, Alexis Morris-Williams, and her father, Lawrence Tillman, also pleaded guilty to evidence tampering in connection with the case.

Read more about the incident and the case against Williams here.

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