Leander Williams, 43, was sitting across a table from the victim before he shot him, a witness testified.
Williams and Antonio B. Cameron were at a clubhouse on the 5500 block of Connie Lane on May 13 when they got into a fight that turned deadly, eyewitness Brad Davis testified Thursday during Williams’ preliminary hearing in Virginia Beach General District Court.
Cameron had already tried to fight another man sitting at the same table when Williams picked up a gun from underneath his chair, Davis said.
Cameron, who was drunk, began cussing at Williams. Williams told Cameron he had no problems with him.
Williams did react, however, when Cameron picked up a jar of weed sitting on the table and began to walk away toward the bar. Williams grabbed his arm, told him to put the marijuana down and a fight ensued, Davis said.
Davis, who knew both men, was standing a few feet away from them when the fight broke out, taking the pair from their feet, to the top of a pool table and onto the ground.
The men fought for about two minutes, Davis testified, before Williams drew the gun, placed it on Cameron’s right lower torso and shot twice.
“(Cameron) laid there,” Davis told Virginia Beach General District Judge Sal Iaquinto.
No one tried to stop Williams when he walked out of the clubhouse. Davis waited for the police to come.
Williams was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony on May 14. He was released from the Virginia Beach Correctional Center on a $50,000 secured bond on May 24, said Macie Allen, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Defense attorney Roger Whitus said Thursday that Williams was defending himself from Cameron, who was drunk and on top of Williams.
“We know Mr. Cameron was drunk. He was belligerent,” Whitus said, adding that Cameron’s blood alcohol content tested between .14 and .17.
Davis testified that Cameron was drunk, but he’d been underneath Williams before getting on top of the man.
“Mr. Williams was the first one on top. Mr. Williams was not overpowered,” said prosecutor Adam Lantz.
Iaquinto ruled that there is enough evidence to take Williams’ charges to Virginia Beach Circuit Court on Dec. 7.
