Woman Sentenced in Double Shooting That Left Teenager Dead

(KNSI) – A woman accused of helping an alleged gunman flee the scene of a double shooting in February that left a teenager dead and another man seriously injured has been sentenced.

Olivia Williams was sentenced in Benton County Court on charges of aiding an offender.

As part of her plea deal, Williams received a stayed felony sentence, meaning successful completion of probation will result in the charge being reduced to a misdemeanor. The judge ordered 30 days in the Benton County Jail, with Williams eligible for work release or sentenced to serve. She received credit for three days already served.

She was also ordered to serve three years of probation and must pay restitution, and stay away from the victim, his family, and the family of 17-year-old Layson Davis, who was killed. The judge ordered her not to contact any of her codefendants. One of them, Quinton McNeal, is also her boyfriend, but the two can communicate for child care purposes only.

According to the criminal complaint, around 3:00 a.m. on February 2nd, police were called to an apartment in the 200 block of 2nd Street Northeast for a report of a shooting. Police arrived to find Davis dead and a 19-year-old man from St. Joseph suffering from two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Investigators determined the shooting appeared to be a robbery gone wrong after surveillance video from the apartment showed Bernard Bowens standing in the hallway with two others and flashing a wad of cash. About five minutes later, the three are seen apparently struggling over the gun. Davis is then seen running on the second floor with a gun when Bowens appears to ambush Davis as he is coming down the stairs. The two each drew their guns, and Bowens fired several rounds at Davis and ran. The other victim ran after the gunman when he was shot by someone else. That shooter, Bowens, McNeal, and another man then fled the scene. Williams then allegedly drove the suspect to Minnetonka, where he lives with the mother of his child.

Police arrested Williams after investigators said they saw her on surveillance camera at the crime scene about 20 minutes before shots were fired, propping a door open. The suspect’s jacket was also in her car.

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