A man accused of shooting at an interracial couple in a Greenville Wal-Mart parking lot has been sentenced to a minimum of 12 years six months in prison to a maximum of 16 years six months in prison.
The jury handed down its verdict shortly before 4 p.m. Friday, deliberating less than two hours.
Donovan Williams, age 23, was found not guilty of attempted murder. He was found guilty of discharging a weapon, ethnic intimidation, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, possessing stolen property and communicating threats.
The defense conceded the jury had to convict Williams on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of stolen property because Williams admitted to those charges during testimony.
Court began Friday morning around 8:45 a.m. The day in court began with the defense attorney for Williams filing a motion to dismiss the charge of communicating threats. Judge Clifton Everett, Jr. did not dismiss the charge as requested.
One of the jurors was allowed to be released from the case Friday morning. The judge permitted her release because of long-standing travel plans. An alternate juror who has been present during the entire trial will take the juror's place.
Thursday's Story
Donovan Williams of Greenville, on trial for shooting at an interracial couple, says he never fired his gun.
Thursday, both the prosecution and defense teams wrapped up their cases.
On the witness stand, Williams admits to drinking all day on February 14 with friends. He's accused of shooting at an interracial couple just after midnight on February 15. Police say this happened in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Greenville.
Williams told jurors he thought Javon Hodge, the alleged victim in the case, was someone he believed was "messing around" with his girlfriend.
Williams says he only displayed the gun when it looked like Hodge was trying to organize three other black men to fight him. Williams says he put the gun away when the other men did not come to fight him. Williams says he never fired the gun.
The 23-year-old faces charges of attempted murder, ethnic intimidation and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Prosecutors say, if convicted of all those charges, Williams could face life in prison.
At the end of the state's case Thursday, Williams' attorney asked the judge to dismiss all the charges against his client. Judge Clifton Everett, Jr. dropped two charges, which were possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver and a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The judge told the jury to return Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. to hear closing arguments in the case.
Stay with WITN and witn.com for updates throughout the day.
Wednesday's Story
It's day two of the Donovan Williams attempted murder trial.
Williams is accused of committing a racially motivated shooting. Police say the shooting targeted an interracial couple in the parking lot of the Greenville Wal-mart last February.
Prosecutors continued presenting their witnesses today, including the woman victim. Tuesday, the other victim testified about what he saw happen.
The jury also heard testimony from Greenville police officers as well as two of Williams' friends who were with him when the shooting occurred. "I didn't see the shot fired. I heard it, it caught my attention and when I looked over behind me it was the defendant standing there with the gun just pointing it," Justin Petrosky testified.
The defense maintains that there is still no proof that anybody actually saw Williams fire his gun that night. They also argued that he has been supportive of two of the witnesses' own interracial relationships, and he is not a racist.
The state could finish presenting their witnesses this afternoon.
Tuesday's Story
A victim of an interracial shooting at the Greenville Wal-Mart took the stand Tuesday in front of the man accused of pulling the trigger.
A jury made up of 7 men, and 5 women heard the words from Javon Hodge as he described what happened when the accused, Donovan Williams allegedly took aim and fired at he and his girlfriend earlier this year.
Earlier Tuesday, Williams rejected a plea bargain which would have put him in prison for at least 15 years. Williams did plead guilty to one charge, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 15th police say Williams fired shots at Hodge and his white girlfriend after a confrontation in the store parking lot.
The 23 year old Williams faces charges of attempted murder, ethnic intimidation and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Prosecutors say if convicted of all those charges he could face life in prison.
Prosecutors say if convicted of all those charges he could face life in prison.