Family pleads with community to help APD solve murder of Gerald LaRon Williams

Three years ago this week, 23-year-old Gerald LaRon Williams was killed on Sweeney Circle in the early morning of June 16, 2016.

"An unidentified black male approached apparently without any provocation, brandished a firearm and shot Mr. Williams multiple times at close range before fleeing northbound on foot," said Austin Police Homicide Detective David Fugitt.

Fugitt says it's the unresolved cases that weigh the heaviest on investigators.

"In this particular instance we have video footage of the assailants approaching and fleeing after the scene," he said.

Police as well as Gerald's father Gabriel Williams say the motive isn't clear. Williams says there are rumors in the community about what happened.

"They're saying that he stopped a fight, they're saying that it was the wrong person," Williams said.

Police are also looking for any tips about some fights that broke out in the neighborhood the night before.

"There were multiple fights that had taken place in the roadway in the 5800 block of Sweeney Circle and the victim happened to be shot hours later in that same block," Fugitt said. "So we don't know if there's a correlation between the two or not."

Williams says the family is looking for closure and assurance the person who killed Gerald won't hurt anyone else.

"It's hard to say but...I'm not angry, I'm just hurt," Williams said. "I forgive the assailant honestly because I wouldn't be able to move on even further than I have thus far if I wouldn't. But we just want some resolve."

Police are offering a reward and asking the public for help. They also released surveillance video from around that time.

"The suspect in this case is described as a black male, possibly in his mid-20s to early 30s, tall," Fugitt said.

Williams says he believes it's a challenge for people who live in that area to feel comfortable coming forward.

"Hopefully they can get a better understanding of what's the difference between doing what's right and snitching because this is not snitching, this is just doing what is right for the greater good of all of us," Williams said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Austin Police at 512-477-3588.