Camren Williams, 18, had a BB gun with him when he took part in a home invasion and robbery in November 2018. His accomplice, 19-year-old Aaron Taylor, had a real handgun, which he fired through a closed door. The bullet struck 38-year-old Sylvia Williams in the head and killed her.
The defendant and victim have the same last name but are not related.
He didn’t pull the trigger, but under the law, Camren Williams is still responsible for Sylvia Williams’ death.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom when the victim’s twin sister testified that a part of her died that day. She told Camren Williams that she can tell he was raised better than this, by the pain she sees in his mother’s eyes.
“This was a very emotional sentencing hearing — one of the most emotional I can remember being involved in,” said defense attorney John McMahon. He argued for a lesser sentence, pointing out that Camren Williams didn’t expect any shots to be fired. And before police identified anyone involved, the teen sat down with detectives and told them what happened.
“He did all he could to make amends,” McMahon added.
“It’s very hard to listen to the heartache and pain and suffering with respect to family members of the victim, but also the defendant,” he continued. “This devastated two families.”
Taylor is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence.
As Montgomery County Judge Richard Haas sentenced Camren Willaims to eight to 20 years in prison, he told him he’ll have plenty of time to think about how his mother told him to be careful who he hangs out with.