The Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office announced the verdict in the trial of Kendarius Williams, aged 22, for his involvement in a murder case. Williams, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was found guilty and sentenced by a jury to 50 years in prison.
The incident dates back to February 6, 2020, when 19-year-old Derrick Johnson was fatally shot at the Grand Prairie apartment complex on South Forum Drive where he resided. Johnson was gunned down in the parking lot. The state presented DNA analysis, fingerprint evidence, and co-defendant testimony to secure Williams' conviction. Assistant District Attorneys Katie Owens and Emily Kirby prosecuted the case, while the Grand Prairie Police Department led the investigation.
A total of five individuals were charged in connection with the case in 2020: Deandre Holmes (19), Jonathan Michael Fletcher Jr. (20), Kendarius Williams (17), Donald Hill (18), and Jermon Carson (25). The arrests were made with the cooperation of the Grand Prairie Police, the U.S. Marshals Service North Texas Fugitive Task Force, and the Arlington Police Department.
Holmes pleaded guilty in June 2023 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Carson was convicted in May 2023 and received a 5-year sentence. The case against Hill was dismissed, while Fletcher's case is pending, although he is currently incarcerated for unrelated charges.
According to police detectives, the incident was not a random act; all individuals involved, including the victim and the suspects, were acquainted with each other.
