By: SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
A Jefferson County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for a brutal 2018 crime spree in Birmingham that included holding a gun to a toddler’s head, shooting a family’s dog, and terrorizing multiple Hispanic victims in a series of robberies.
Darius Monterro Williams, 40, was convicted by a Jefferson County jury on five counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, and one count each of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and animal cruelty. Circuit Judge Shanta Owens sentenced Williams to life without parole for each robbery conviction, plus additional sentences totaling more than two decades on the other charges.
Prosecutors said Williams deliberately targeted Hispanic victims during a day-long rampage on August 22, 2018, in the Ensley community.
The violence began around 7 a.m., when Williams attacked a man outside his wife’s trailer, stealing his wallet and keys before firing into the victim’s vehicle. Hours later, around noon, Williams confronted a woman in her backyard. When her dog tried to protect her, Williams shot the animal. He then forced the woman into her home at gunpoint and searched room to room for valuables.
At 6 p.m., Williams attacked two women and three children viewing a house for sale. When they told him they had no money, Williams grabbed a 3-year-old child from a vehicle and pressed a gun to his head. He stole the victims’ phones and keys before shooting inside their car and fleeing.
Just one hour later, Williams struck again in the same trailer park as his first assault, demanding a man’s wallet and firing at residents who tried to stop him.
Police spotted Williams’ Kia Sorento minutes later and initiated a traffic stop. He led officers on a chase before fleeing on foot. After a brief pursuit, he was arrested. Investigators found a backpack containing the firearm used in all the robberies and more than $3,500 in cash.
Williams, who has prior robbery convictions dating back to 2009, is also serving a 15-year federal sentence related to the case.