Former Miami Football Player Avantae Williams Charged with Murder After Alleged Bar Fight: Police

A former college football player who played for the University of Miami and the University of Maryland has been arrested on a charge of second-degree murder, PEOPLE can confirm.

Avantae Williams, 24, was taken into custody on Monday, May 5 and charged with second-degree murder, according to Volusia County inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE. He is currently being held without bond.

Williams’ arrest comes days after police allege the former college football player opened fire at McCabe’s Bar in DeLand, Fla., on Saturday, May 3, killing a 32-year-old man. Williams allegedly fled the scene after the shooting, which also injured a bartender who sustained “gunshot wounds to both hands,” the DeLand Police Department said in a statement on Facebook earlier this week.

“The bartender was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries,” DeLand police added.

Keshod Harris, 32, was killed in the shooting after being struck “multiple times in the chest,” police said.

The shooting began after a fistfight broke out between several men, DeLand police said in its statement. Police then allege Williams took out a weapon and began firing. He then allegedly fled the scene before officers arrived at McCabe’s around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and appears to have evaded police throughout the rest of the weekend until his arrest on Monday.

“At this time, this remains an open and active investigation,” the DeLand Police Department said in a statement on Facebook.

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Williams is a former defensive back who played two seasons with the Miami Hurricanes in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to play for the Maryland Terrapins in 2023. 

Once named the top safety recruit in the country, according to ESPN, Williams career with Miami appeared to be cut short before it ever began in 2021 when the Hurricanes excused him from the team after he was charged with assaulting a pregnant woman, according to an ESPN report at the time. 

After charges were dropped, however, Williams rejoined the team but served a half-season suspension to start his NCAA career. He later transferred to Maryland and played just five games during the 2023 season before entering the transfer portal, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Williams, however, never joined another team.