Cleveland Man Indicted for Murder Outside West Side Pizza Shop and Additional Shooting Days Later at Nearby Gas Station

CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging Harold Williams III, 30, for the murder of a 24-year-old man in the parking lot of a west side pizza shop. The indictment also charges Williams for an armed robbery and shooting of a 37-year-old woman at a nearby gas station.

“This individual murdered a man over a minor fender-bender and shot a woman while robbing a gas station three days later,” said Prosecutor O’Malley. “The city of Cleveland is significantly safer with him locked up.”

On October 21, 2020, Williams backed his car into the victim’s vehicle in the parking lot of a pizza shop near Lorain Avenue and West 69th Street in Cleveland. An argument ensued and the victim walked away before Williams shot him in the back and drove away. The victim stumbled into the pizza shop and collapsed before the Cleveland Division of Police (CPD) and Emergency Medical Services arrived. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

On October 24, 2020, Williams approached employees at the counter of a gas station near Denison Avenue and West 65th Street in Cleveland. He asked if they knew about the murder that occurred three days prior and if they recognized who he was. The victims asked him to leave, but he refused so they called the police. Williams then pointed a gun at them, demanded everything they had, and stated he was robbing them. The victims attempted to escape to a back-office before he shot one victim twice and fled the scene.

CPD’s Homicide Unit and Second District Detective’s Bureau conducted an investigation that connected Williams to the crimes.

He has been indicted on the following charges:

• Two counts of Murder
• One count of Attempted Murder
• Three counts of Felonious Assault
• Two counts of Aggravated Robbery
• Two counts of Having Weapons Under Disability

Williams is currently being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail on $5,000,000 bond. He will be arraigned at a later date. If convicted, he faces a maximum term of life in prison.