Davontay Williams, a 32-year-old male from Arizona, was a devoted father whose four children were his greatest pride. Loved ones remembered him as a loving son and loyal friend who worked hard to provide for his children and remain active in their lives. A fundraiser created after his death described him as an exceptional person whose life was taken too soon.
On the evening of June 9, 2026, what should have been a routine child custody exchange turned deadly in a public parking lot.
Williams met his children's mother, her boyfriend, and his own girlfriend shortly after 6 p.m. outside the Home Depot at 963 W. Badillo Street in Covina, California. The four children were also present. During the exchange, an argument broke out between Williams and the mother’s boyfriend.
The confrontation escalated quickly, and police said the mother’s boyfriend pulled out a gun and shot Williams in the upper torso. When first responders arrived, police officers were performing CPR. Williams was rushed to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, but he died from his injuries. No one else was reported to have been physically harmed in the incident.
Police arrested Morris Lawrence, 31, at the scene. Authorities stated that both Williams and Lawrence had been armed at the time of the shooting and that Williams had a pistol in his possession. Lawrence was booked at the Covina jail on suspicion of murder and assault with a firearm and was held in lieu of $2 million bail.
Covina police described the shooting as the result of an argument and stated there was no ongoing threat to the public. As of June 2026, the case was proceeding through the legal system. Authorities asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the Covina Police Investigations Bureau at 626-384-5622.
