Former Maryland and Miami safety Avantae Williams is unlikely to ever be a free man again after recent allegations.
Williams has been arrested and charged with murder after a deadly Florida bar shooting that happened over the weekend.
According to the DeLand Police Department, the 24-year-old was arrested and charged in connection with an early Saturday morning shooting that tragically took the life of one man. It happened in DeLand at McCabe’s bar, just over 40 miles north of Orlando.
On Monday night, authorities announced that detectives arrested Williams. He faces a second-degree murder charge.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Former Maryland DB Avantae Williams has been arrested for murder in Florida.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 6, 2025
Police arrested Williams for his involvement in the Saturday shooting at McCabe’s Bar that resulted in the death of 32-year-old Keshod Harris.
Harris was struck by gunshots multiple… pic.twitter.com/v4V2jcHGb3
Witnesses told authorities that a fistfight broke out between several men inside the bar, during which time one man pulled out a gun and began shooting.
“The victim, identified as 32-year-old Keshod Harris of DeLand, was struck multiple times in the chest,” DeLand police said per Pennlive.
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“He was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.”
According to police, Avantae Williams fled the scene after the shooting.
Police also confirmed that a bartender was shot in both hands during the incident and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Avantae Williams’ Life Has Been Swinging In The Wrong Direction For Years
Avantae Williams was one of the top recruits in the country for the class of 2020. He was ranked by Rivals as the top safety in the nation and the No. 40 overall player in the country coming out of DeLand High School.
He would sign on to play with the University of Miami and appeared in 17 games, making one start for the Hurricanes. He finished his time at Miami with 27 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
In 2021, Williams was arrested by the Miami-Dade Police and dismissed by the University of Miami football program. He faced a charge of aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, who turned out to be his ex-girlfriend. She was 31 weeks pregnant with his child at the time.
The police report said he grabbed the victim by her hair and threw her to the ground multiple times.
Williams transferred to Maryland for the 2023 season. During the 2023 season, he appeared in five games and recorded three tackles for the Terrapins.
Also Read: Miami Football Player Dismissed From Team For Allegedly Assaulting His Pregnant Girlfriend
