Saturday, June 6, 2026

Florida man freed from jail over coronavirus allegedly murdered someone the next day

A Florida man released from jail last month to help limit coronavirus outbreaks in county lockups was arrested again Monday — accused of murdering a man the day after his release, a report said.
Joseph Edwards Williams was facing drug charges when he and 163 other inmates — considered low level offenders — were sprung from Hillsborough County Jail on March 19, according to WFLA, citing the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities believe that Williams was the triggerman who fatally shot a man the next day in the Progress Village area, the report said.
Williams was arrested on a warrant Monday in Gibsonton.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister slammed Williams, claiming “he took advantage” of the administrative order to free inmates amid the coronavirus pandemic to “commit crimes.”
“As a result, I call on the State Attorney to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law,” Chronister said.
Williams was arraigned via video appearance Tuesday and ordered held on a more than $250,000 bond, WFLA reported.

- Advertisment -

Stay Connected

11,835FansLike
3,036FollowersFollow

Latest news

Barbados recorded 37 new COVID-19 cases

There were 37 new positive COVID-19 cases on Sunday, out of the 1,436 tests conducted by the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory. They comprised both...

A Visitor form UK died in Jamaica of COVID-19

Jamaica on Monday recorded one more COVID-19 death, pushing the tally to 305. The deceased is a 77-year-old male from the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, there were...

Sandals founder Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart dies aged 79 following ‘short battle with illness’

Travel pioneer Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, who founded Jamaica's Sandals resort, has died. Stewart was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1941. He grew up on...

Barbados Confirms 161 New COVID-19 Cases

Barbados has announced 161 cases of COVID-19 at the Island’s Dodds prison. The discovery has prompted a massive contact tracing exercise. Authorities say the cases relate...