Pretrial date set for next week for Columbia man accused of murdering woman in 2022

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The pretrial date for the man accused of killing April Joann Brooks has been moved to Monday, Nov. 6

Montez Williams, 32, of Columbia, was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful gun possession and resisting arrest. He is being held in the Boone County Jail without bond.

Williams appeared in court Monday by video from the jail in what was originally to be his pretrial hearing. But due to a recent death in the family, Williams and his attorney requested for his pretrial date to be moved to Nov. 6.

The friends and family of April Joann Brooks will give their victim impact statements during the rescheduled pretrial date. The jury trial date is set to begin Tuesday, Nov. 7.

According to previous reporting, Williams is accused of shooting Brooks from the back seat of a car after an argument on Blue Ridge Road in North Columbia. Williams allegedly admitted to shooting from the backseat of the vehicle.

A witness had allegedly told investigators that Brooks and Williams were arguing in the vehicle and that someone told Williams to get out, according to previous reporting.

Prosecutors requested Williams' murder charge to be changed to second-degree murder on Wednesday, according to court documents..