WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Civil rights attorney Ben Crump addressed the public on Friday morning regarding the tragic death of Ja’Keem DeShun Williams, a Black man who was fatally shot while riding an ATV through a Winter Garden apartment complex. Crump emphasized the importance of transparency and seeking justice for Williams’ untimely passing.
Winter Garden Police Department disclosed that Williams was involved in an altercation related to the ongoing issue of individuals riding motorcycles and ATVs within the complex. The alleged suspect in the shooting, identified as 57-year-old Ralph Francis Hensel, was apprehended by the authorities following the incident.
Since the beginning of the year, Winter Garden police reported that they had received multiple complaints about ATV riders within the apartment complex. Witness statements indicated that Hensel had engaged in verbal altercation with Williams before the fatal shooting took place.
Speaking on behalf of Williams’ family, Crump highlighted that Williams was not engaged in any wrongdoing and that the root cause of the conflict was Hensel’s harassment of individuals in the area. Williams’ girlfriend, Sierra Rose, echoed similar sentiments, stating that they had been riding their ATVs in the field behind the apartments for several months without issue.
According to police affidavits, surveillance footage retrieved from the leasing office confirmed Hensel as the perpetrator. The footage revealed that Hensel had been lying in wait near a building, brandishing a firearm before shooting Williams as he rode past. Upon the authorities’ arrival, a gun was discovered near Hensel at the leasing office.
The community has rallied in support of Williams’ family, who are now faced with the heartbreaking reality of his absence. Williams leaves behind three children, with his mother, Keisha Rolle-McNeal, tearfully expressing the pain of witnessing her son’s tragic end.
In response to the incident, the Juneteenth Project Coalition is planning a protest in front of the apartment complex to demand justice and raise awareness of the tragic events that transpired. The community continues to grapple with the loss of Williams and the circumstances surrounding his death.