Man Who Beat Reginald Denny Charged in Slaying
Damian “Football” Williams, who spent four years in jail for attacking trucker Reginald Denny during the 1992 riots, was charged Friday in a Southwest Los Angeles murder.
Williams, 27, could face the death penalty for the July 18 shooting. In a 11-page felony complaint, prosecutors said Williams and Tyrone David “T” Killingsworth, a 34-year-old with convictions for bank robbery and forcible rape, killed 43-year-old Grove Tinner at a West Gage Avenue drug house.
Killingsworth--not Williams--pulled the trigger, the complaint says.
That account differs significantly from early police descriptions of the incident, which had Williams firing the shot that killed Tinner. Police said the shooting occurred after an argument between Williams and Tinner.
Through a lawyer, Williams has denied the charges. Shortly after the shooting last month, he surrendered to the police. He has been held since for violating his parole in the Denny case.
Even before the murder charges were filed, the case has brought controversy. A coalition of African American religious and community leaders demanded Williams’ release from jail, arguing that the evidence against him was thin.
Williams’ arraignment, originally scheduled for Friday, is now set for Tuesday, according to the district attorney’s office.
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