A former college football player is facing murder charges following an incident at a bar in Florida over the weekend. Local law enforcement reported that Avantae Traeviyon Williams, a defensive player from the University of Maryland, was arrested at the Deland Police Station on Monday. He is charged with second-degree murder related to a firearm.
The 24-year-old suspect expressed he felt “satisfied” when taken into custody after a 32-year-old man, Keshod Harris, was shot dead during a confrontation at the bar in Deland. Police responded to the shooting around 1:30 AM and found that the victim had been transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died. A bartender also sustained a gunshot wound but is expected to survive.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Deland police stating it is “open and aggressive.” They are gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses; approximately 40 patrons were reportedly inside McCabe’s bar at the time of the shooting.
Williams, who played one season for Maryland before transferring to Miami, was a top recruit in his class, attracting interest from schools like Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio. In 2021, he faced assault charges related to incidents involving a pregnant woman, although those charges were ultimately dismissed.
