By james art A second suspect pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in the 2020 shooting death of 8-year-old Roita Giles during a shooting at the Riverchase Galleria.
King Gary Williams, 23, and two others were initially charged with capital murder in the death of Roita and the wounding of three innocent bystanders also caught in the crossfire that day.
Williams pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in Roita’s slaying and three counts of second-degree assault for shooting Walter Lee victims Rashad Hudson, Chateria Brant and 11-year-old Senia Escobar Fajardo.
He apologized to Roita’s mother, Jesslyn Layfield.
“I am extremely sorry for what happened that day,” Williams told Jefferson County Circuit Judge Shanta Craig Owens. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
“All this time I didn’t have a voice,” Williams said. “I sincerely apologize.”
Under the plea agreement, the judge sentenced Williams to 25 years on the manslaughter conviction and 10 years with two to be served on each of the assault convictions.
The sentences will be served concurrently, and Williams will receive prison credits for more than four years already served in the Jefferson County Jail.
After his plea, King was allowed to visit privately with his many family members who attended Tuesday’s hearing, some of whom wept quietly.
King Gary Williams (Hoover Police Department)
“King Williams has decided to accept the state’s offer of a lesser charge of reckless rather than intentional homicide,” said his attorney, John Lentine. “I understand and respect his decision.
“I am relieved that he is no longer facing the death penalty or life without parole and will one day return to his family,” Lentine said. “I’m also glad he was able to express his condolences to Roite Giles’ mother, which he’s wanted to do for the past four years.”
Layfield sat quietly in the back row of the courtroom for Williams’ plea.
“I’m just glad it’s over and I can wrap it up,” Layfield said.
Asked about his apology, Layfield said: “If it was sincere, I get it. At this point, I’m just making sure I get the closure I need so I can move on and be a parent.”
Montez Moses Miracle Coleman, 26, also originally charged with capital murder, pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and three counts of second-degree assault in June. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Demetrius Jackson, 23, will stand trial in January.
The cases are being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Shawn Allen, Julie McMakin and Elise Driskell.
Read full coverage of the case here
A makeshift memorial has been set up at the Riverchase Galleria where 8-year-old Roita Giles Jr. was caught in the crossfire and killed on July 3, 2020.
On July 3, 2020, Roita, his mother and stepfather, and younger sisters Trinity and Marley were waiting to go to daycare. Due to COVID, stores at the time had limits on how many customers could be admitted.
Hoover police said an argument, possibly sparked by a previous “beef” dispute over rap lyrics, broke out near the eatery. It escalated to shooting and at least 12 shots were fired in just four seconds.
When it was over, Roita was lying motionless on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at Children’s of Alabama two hours and 17 minutes later.
The other three shoppers were injured but survived.
All the suspects had previously claimed that they each fired in self-defense – from each other.
Testimony in previous hearings indicated that one of the defendants fired his AR-15 pistol through a book bag.
The gun misfired after the first shot, but he had about 75 rounds in the knapsack – nearly 50 rounds were in two magazines and 24 were stuffed in a sock. Two other defendants, according to witnesses, lifted their shirts to show they also had guns shortly before the shootout began.
Although all parties agreed that no one went into the mall that day with the intent to kill, the resulting carnage occurred because of their “willingness and consent, whether spoken or unspoken, to participate in this shootout,” Allen said earlier.
When engaged in mutual combat, he said, all parties are criminally responsible for the deaths and injuries that occur that day.
Roita was born in Houston, but his family later moved to the Birmingham area.
At the time of his death, he had just finished second grade at Jonesboro Elementary School in Bessemer, where he was an excellent student and adored by his teachers and school administrators.
He loved playing video games and aspired to be a music artist.
“Music was his treasure and he was an aspiring rap artist,” his obituary read. “Like any entertainer, His Royal Highness had to be dressed for the occasion. Fashion was his passion. He excelled as a gamer, artist, modder and was a master of art. He cherished his drawings and sketches.
Most of all, Roita enjoyed spending time with her family. “He found special joy in being the ultimate big brother watching over his little sisters,” teaching them to jump over the sofa, jump off the table and have pillow fights. He was looking forward to third grade and “more often than not, Roita was accompanied by his dearest friend, his ‘Prayer Bear.'”
Roita’s mother previously told AL.com that her slain son is never far from her thoughts and heart. “I try not to worry about tomorrow and lean more on God and accept what happened,” Layfield said. “He will never be forgotten.”