Robert Wayne Williams

Robert Wayne Williams (February 6, 1952 – December 14, 1983) was convicted of the January 5, 1979 murder of Willie Kelly, a 67-year-old security guard. He was executed in 1983 by the State of Louisiana by electric chair.[1] He became the first person to be executed in Louisiana since 1976 when the death penalty was reinstated.

For the 19th century Florida landowner, see Robert W. Williams Plantation.
Robert Wayne Williams
Born(1952-02-06)February 6, 1952
Louisiana
DiedDecember 14, 1983(1983-12-14) (aged 31)
Angola, Louisiana
Criminal statusExecuted
Conviction(s)First degree murder
Criminal penaltyDeath by electric chair

Overview

On January 5, 1979, Williams and Ralph Holmes entered the A & P Supermarket located at 3525 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge. Both men placed ski masks over their faces and Williams pulled out a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. They then approached the security guard, Willie Kelly, age 67, who was bagging groceries. Ralph Holmes tried to remove Kelly's pistol from his holster. As Kelly made a move with his hand toward his pistol, Williams yelled "Don't try it", and immediately shot Kelly in the face at point blank range. Williams and Holmes then proceeded to complete the robbery. During this process, Holmes pistol-whipped one of the customers, and Williams accidentally shot two people in their feet. The police received a telephone call from an informant implicating Holmes, Williams and Williams' wife. Following their arrest, both Williams and his wife gave confessions which implicated themselves in the crime.

See also

References
  1. "The Telegraph: Robert Wayne Williams". Retrieved 25 July 2012.

Sources
Preceded by
Robert Sullivan		 People executed in US Succeeded by
John Eldon Smith


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