A Philadelphia man wrongfully convicted, who spent a quarter of a century in prison on death row and was released after acquittal about two years ago, was shot and killed during a funeral service on Friday afternoon December 16.
Christopher Williams, 62, suffered gunshots to the head while driving a car that was a part of the funeral procession for the late Tyree Little at a Northern Philadelphia cemetery. The father of six spent 25 years in prison before being exonerated of four murder charges and released in February 2021.
According to Philadelphia police, Williams was shot in the head as he got out of his vehicle on Friday afternoon at 2:20 pm at Mount Peace Cemetery. He was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead a few minutes after he was brought in.
The 62-year-old man had also been acquitted of two other murders – the murder of Michael Haynesworth and a triple murder, both of which happened in 1989. A jury convicted him and his codefendant, Troy Coulston, of the murder of Haynesworth in 1992. Then, the following year, another jury convicted Williams and another codefendant, Theophalis Wilson, of the triple murders.
Decades later, prosecutors from Philadelphia decided to dismiss both murder convictions against Williams after they found exculpatory evidence that law enforcement discovered and failed to share with the defense team. They also found tainted testimony.
After his release 22 months ago, co-defendant Wilson told reporters that the Pennsylvania judicial system had never before witnessed someone charged with six murders exonerated of four of them and acquitted of two.
Wilson, who was Williams’ codefendant in the triple murder case and a family friend, was also exonerated after 28 years in prison. They had been accused of joining a gang and murdering three drug dealers in cold blood.
Wilson said that he was very concerned for his safety after his friend’s fatal shooting. He said that even though they were innocent, people did not believe it and because he spent almost three decades in jail, he also had to be careful.
Larry Krasner, Philadelphia’s District Attorney, released a statement through his communications director saying what Williams went through as a person who was wrongfully convicted twice and exonerated was unfathomable. Williams struggled financially during his brief period of freedom because the state of Pennsylvania does not provide monetary compensation to those wrongfully convicted.
Williams youngest son said that his father, who worked as a carpenter, impressed everyone he met. He said that Williams had taught him how to become a better man and a better father during his short freedom.
Police have not yet made any arrests in connection with Williams’ shooting.
