Man Convicted of Killing Pastor

A jury Friday convicted a 24-year-old Inglewood man of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a popular Inglewood minister.

But the Superior Court panel acquitted Aaron Deon Seymour of first- and second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Pastor Charlie Williams, 70.

Williams’ wife, Lois Moore-Williams, expressed anguish at the verdict. Seymour faces a prison sentence ranging from six to 21 years.

“I lost all I had,” she said.

On April 27, 2005, Williams was leaving Bible study at his Christian Unity Missionary Baptist Church. He had just stepped into Market Street when those inside the church heard two sounds: his last words and a gunshot. “We heard [his] voice cry out, ‘Man! What are you trying to do?’ ” his wife said at the time.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Villa argued that Seymour was trying to rob Williams.

Seymour, however, told police detectives the shooting was unintentional, Villa said.

Seymour said he was walking with his head down, and bumped into the pastor. Jittery from having been shot at two months earlier, Seymour pulled out his gun, he said. The pair struggled over the weapon, which fell and discharged, Seymour said.

Villa, however, said that ballistics evidence contradicted Seymour’s story.