Suspect Appeared In Court On DUI Charge Hours After He Killed Man

Updated: 11:47 am EDT May 19, 2010

Just hours after he allegedly killed a man in broad daylight, a homicide suspect appeared in court on a separate charge.

When Rasool Hassan Williams went to court on a driving under the influence charge on April 20, investigators had not yet known he was a suspect in a homicide that happened earlier that same day.

Now, weeks later and after he'd fled the area, 32-year-old Williams was arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Charles King Jr.

Police Chief Bill McCafferty said authorities arrested Williams on a warrant in his hometown of New Rochelle, N.Y. late Tuesday afternoon.

King, 29, was shot to death in April in downtown Steubenville. At the time of the shooting, Williams was living next door to King at 234 N. Eighth St., McCafferty said.

"Through the investigation for the past several weeks, officers -- the detective division -- established enough probable cause to have a warrant for murder for Mr. Williams' arrest," McCafferty said.

McCafferty said Williams has a past criminal record in Steubenville police. In 2006, he was charged with drug crimes, and in March he was charged with driving under the influence.

The day of King's slaying, Williams appeared in court with his attorney for a hearing on the DUI charge. According to court documents, the trial was moved to April 30, but Williams didn't show up that day and the DUI trial was moved to June 1.

Police said after Williams went to court, he fled to his former hometown in Westchester County, about 100 miles from New York City. Williams was arrested there without incident.

Wednesday morning, police were waiting to hear if Williams will waive his right to extradition back to Jefferson County. McCafferty said Steubenville police will travel to New York to get Williams once he's cleared for extradition. The chief said that process could be days or weeks.

In the meantime, police are still investigating a second shooting death in Steubenville that happened days after King's slaying. McCafferty said the investigation is ongoing and he hopes to make an arrest soon.

From: http://www.wtov9.com/news/23604791/detail.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss#