Before he was sentenced to more than four years in prison, Antonio Williams turned to face Andre McIntyre’s family and told them he “practiced and practiced” what he was going to say.
“But it ain’t coming together right,” Williams said, “Because I’m looking at y’all and I see pain in y’all’s eyes.”
On March 1, 2014, just after midnight, police officers found McIntryre unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. Prosecutors said that Williams punched McIntyre that night because McIntyre owed him money.
In court Friday, Williams said that he had also lost loved ones to violence and apologized, though he added, “There’s nothing I can say that’s going to help right now.”
Williams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter nearly six weeks after McIntyre’s death.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that it was one of the quickest plea agreements that either party had entered.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor noted that though Williams appeared “ready to accept responsibility,” McIntyre’s family was still having “a hard time accepting and understanding” the charge of involuntary manslaughter in the case.
Defense attorney Anthony Matthews said that he did not “endorse” or “recommend” the quick plea to his client.
Judge Jennifer Anderson told the court that she “struggled mightily” to determine a fair sentence, noting that though Williams seemed remorseful, he did “sucker punch [McIntyre] very hard, all over a small amount of money.”
But outside the courtroom, McIntyre’s family expressed their disappointment and anger over the length of the sentence.
“Not enough time,” said one family member. “Just not enough time.”
