Brooklyn Man Charged With Murder

A Brooklyn man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Woodmere man during a home invasion.  The Nassau County police arrested Edward Leon Williams III, 30, and he was ordered held without bail at his arraignment.

Homicide Squad detectives said Williams and a second suspect forced Tristen Theodore and his friend into his South End home at gunpoint on June 15.

The assailants then forced the victims outside and into the family vehicle.  That's when Theodore's friend escaped from the backseat while the suspects were driving, police said. Soon after, Theodore also jumped out of the car but the suspects shot him in the chest before he fled, police said.

After a homeowner called police, Theodore died at South Nassau Communities Hospital.

Williams is being represented by Legal Aid, which does not comment on cases. He is due back in court on Aug. 13.

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Murder and manslaughter are both forms of criminal homicide. Criminal homicide occurs when a person unlawfully takes the life of another person. Criminal homicide may stem from negligence or intentional wrongdoing. For example, a drunk driver who causes an auto accident may be charged with vehicular manslaughter if his or her actions lead to the death of another driver, passenger, or pedestrian. A person who intentionally assaults another with a deadly weapon, with the intention to take their life, will likely face attempted murder charges.

A highly experienced Westchester County criminal lawyer can explore different options in regard to your defense in the face of manslaughter or murder charges. For example, an act committed in self-defense would not be murder. The incident may have been entirely accidental, or you may have been framed or wrongfully accused. A thorough investigation may uncover evidence of wrongful charges in this way.