CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County jury decided to give a Charleston man mercy shortly after convicting him of first degree murder Monday.
Antonio Williams, 27, shot and killed Shannon Cade, 20, on New Year’s Day 2016. Williams was looking for another man that he was upset with and fired shots into Cade’s home on Mathews Avenue in Charleston. Cade was fatally struck and a 14-year-old, also inside the residence, was injured.
“Right before the shooting he (Cade) had been upstairs talking with his mother and he went back downstairs to talk to his sister,” Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Maryclaire Akers said. “He was sitting at his own dining room table with his sister and her friends when he was shot and killed. He never saw it coming.”
Williams was convicted Monday morning of first degree murder, malicious wounding and wanton endangerment. The jury later found mercy which means he could have a chance for parole in 15 years. Judge Charlie King could decide to run the sentences consecutively which would include life with mercy, 2-10 for malicious wounding and 1-5 for wanton endangerment.
Williams did not take the stand during the trial but did testify during the sentencing phase. He said he didn’t shoot into the home.
Akers said it was a clear first-degree murder case.
“He made them (his friends) take him to this location. He got out of the car with a gun, stayed there long enough to ascertain whether there were people inside and then decided to open fire. So that’s the premeditation,” Akers said.
An eyewitness who was with Williams outside the house provided key testimony.
The Cade family has been amazingly strong during the process, according to Akers.
“Just the grace and the persistence and patience that it takes. The victim’s mother, Kim Cade, has been wonderful through the whole thing. She’s never had a harsh word to say about anybody not even really the defendant. All she ever wanted was an apology which she never got,” Akers said.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 30 at 1:30 p.m.