Columbia man charged in woman’s shooting death makes first court appearance
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia man accused of murdering a woman learned his charges would be upgraded Wednesday afternoon because he is considered a persistent offender.
Montez Williams, 31, is being held without bond in the Boone County Jail, charged with first-degree murder and other felonies in the killing of 42-year-old April Joann Brooks.
Brooks' family members were in the courtroom Wednesday and said they were heartbroken and confused by her death. They told an ABC 17 News reporter they want people to know Brooks, of Cuba, Missouri, was a loving mother who lived for her children.
"She loved her kids and her granddaughter more than anything in the world, and for their loss it's unbearable," Chad, Brook's boyfriend said. "Anybody that was her friend was more like family to her. It's kind of hard she just loved to live life to its fullest."
Prosecutors have charged Williams with six felonies: First-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, child endangerment, illegal gun possession and resisting arrest.
Because Williams is considered a persistent offender -- meaning he's been convicted of two or more previous felonies -- his potential punishment is enhanced.
Williams has at least three felony convictions in the past seven years. Two involved felony domestic violence charges.
"Its our way, the prosecutors way of kind of signaling to everybody hey if you keep racking up priors you are going to be doing a lot of time," Bill Tackett, Attorney said.
Police blocked off part of Blue Ridge Road in north Columbia on Monday when they found Brooks' body inside a Kia Soul. A probable cause statement says Williams shot and killed Brooks after the two were arguing.
Officers said surveillance video showed two people leaving the car with a child after a flash is visible inside the car.
Williams was on probation for cases in Boone and Audrain County when Brooks was killed.
The Audrain County prosecutor had asked a judge to revoke Williams' probation in a felony gun case and wanted to send him to prison for seven years. A hearing on that was set for next Monday.
This is a trend seen in the justice system.
"It's the due process aspect of this which is obviously very good that sometimes works against us because it buys time for a felon to commit another felony while awaiting the probation revocation," Tackett said.
