Mother of suspect in cab driver killing: 'He's not the shooter'

18-year-old accused of pulling trigger in armed robbery plot with 2 other teens

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of one of three teenagers accused of murdering a Jacksonville cab driver told News4Jax that her son is not a killer, and she expects the charges against him to be dropped.

Tionne Williams, 15, and Tavione Williams, 17, who police said aren't related, were arrested along with 18-year-old Deron Brown Jr.

They’re charged with armed robbery and murder in the shooting death of taxi cab driver Melvin Wright.  

Brown appeared before a judge Tuesday and will face a judge again Thursday for murder charges.

Brown's mother, Sherell Walker, said her son is a good person and would never be involved in anything like a murder.

Walker said she was at work when detectives showed up at her home to arrest her teenage son.

“The detectives came, kicked in my door while I was at work one night, and my son said they had a search warrant,” Walker said. “I said, 'What in the world for?' And they said, 'For a murder charge.'”

Brown is one of three teens accused of murdering Wright, a Yellow Cab driver, in what was described as an armed robbery plot. Police said Brown pulled the trigger.

The 18-year-old’s mother is pointing fingers at the other two suspects -- Tionne Williams and Tavione Williams -- saying they are implicating him in a crime he would never commit.

“(They're) just trying to keep the heat off them,” Walker said. “I’m sure (he'll be set free), because he’s not the shooter. I’m pretty sure that he’ll be free, if they get right down to the bottom of it."

Walker said she’s meeting with a private attorney to determine what’s best for her son.

“He’s a good child,” Walker said. “I don’t know why anyone’s trying to accuse him of being that type of person.”

At Brown’s court hearing Tuesday, there was an issue with getting him an attorney. The judge at the time urged the public defender’s office to get an attorney assigned to his case as soon as possible, unless a private lawyer was hired.

Wright’s brother-in-law said after the arrests that he’s sad for the three suspects, because they’re so young. He said he couldn’t imagine what their families are going through as well.


About the Author:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.