GARDEN CITY, Mich. (WWJ) -- The man accused of killing an off-duty Detroit police officer at their Garden City home back in June appeared in court Wednesday.
Eddie Ray Johnson allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend, Sgt. Elaine Williams on June 2 at a home in the 200 block of Belton. Prosecutors say the 34-year-old Williams was shot four times in the head and once in the shoulder, and Johnson, 35, then shot himself as a cover-up.
Wednesday's preliminary hearing saw contentious testimony from a neighbor who had gone out drinking with Johnson, Williams and another couple the night of the murder. Douglas Fields says his son was babysitting Williams' son that night and after he picked his son up and got back home, he heard gunshots.
That's when he says he ran back across the street and saw Johnson coming out, holding his stomach and saying he had been shot. Fields says he ran inside the house to bring Williams' son out. Prosecutors claim during the investigation following the shooting, Fields said he had to walk over Williams' body, but in court Wednesday, he sparred with prosecutors over his level of cooperation with the police.
When assistant prosecutor Karen Goldfarb questioned Fields about whether he had agreed to give police more information on the shooting, he became defensive.
"They never asked me to. You're trying to bully me and it's not going to work," Fields said.
Fields said that he had been visited later by Williams' mother, who told him it was in his best interest not to get involved in the case.
The medical examiner, Dr. Millard Webb, says at least one of the gunshots to Williams came from a close range -- an estimated 8-12 inches from her face.
The preliminary hearing to determine whether Johnson will stand trial will continue on Thursday.
Days after Williams' murder, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the entire department was in mourning, as she was by all accounts a "beloved member" and a "rising star" in the department.
"This case is a stark example of what can potentially happen in every domestic violence case. The alleged actions of this defendant will be addressed fairly and justly," Craig said at the time.
