ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A man was found guilty of aggravated assault on Orange County deputies in 2021.
Avery Williams, 39, was shot by deputies and arrested in December 2021 after a short chase. The state charged him with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm on a law enforcement officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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According to investigators, Williams’ brother was hanging out with a woman, and Williams joined them. A fight started when Williams flirted with the victim, officials said.
As the brothers fought, the victim told investigators she recorded the scuffle. Deputies said Williams pulled out a gun and opened fire on his brother. The brothers then realized the woman was recording the fight and they turned on her, according to the affidavit.
Williams then took off and deputies chased after him, officials said. At one point, according to an affidavit, a deputy ordered Williams to drop a gun but he pointed it toward the deputy, prompting them to fire at him multiple times.
Williams was initially arrested by the sheriff’s office on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery on a pregnant person, but those charges were ultimately not pursued by the state.
However, Williams was convicted on both counts of aggravated assault on Wednesday. He previously pleaded no contest to the firearm possession charge.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina released a statement following the conviction on Wednesday afternoon.
Today, an Orange County jury returned a verdict, which confirms that our residents will not tolerate violent offenders terrorizing our community and threatening law enforcement with impunity. Avery Williams is a repeat violent criminal that threatened to shoot Orange County deputies, but today, he was held to account. He will no longer be able to wreak havoc thanks to the work of OCSO, and the prosecutors who recognized that anything less than a guilty verdict would only subject our residents and law enforcement to further danger. Hopefully, this verdict turns a page on letting violent criminals off the hook and serves to put other offenders on notice that this community will stand together to ensure they are taken off our streets.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina
Williams’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16.
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