Topline: A Fort Worth jury determined the infant’s death was not intentional but resulted from violent actions that caused catastrophic injuries.
Published: January 26, 2026 8:35 am ET
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Alfred Williams (via Tarrant County Corrections Center)
FORT WORTH, TX — A jury has convicted a Texas father of felony murder and injury to a child in the death of his 4-month-old son, concluding the infant died during an act clearly dangerous to human life.
Alfred Williams, 21, was found guilty Thursday in the 213th District Court for the February 2023 death of Azari Williams, according to court records and reporting from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Jurors determined Williams did not intentionally kill the child but caused the death while committing the felony offense of injury to a child, the Star-Telegram reported. He was also convicted of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.
The jury returned Friday to assess punishment, sentencing Williams to 60 years in prison on the felony murder count and 45 years on the injury to a child count. The sentences will run concurrently, and Williams will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years, according to the Star-Telegram.
Testimony during trial established that Azari lived with his parents and an 11-year-old half brother in an apartment near Hulen Mall in south Fort Worth. Williams was the infant’s primary caregiver while the child’s mother worked 12-hour shifts at a hospital, according to the Star-Telegram.
On the evening of the incident in February 2023, the baby began crying inside the apartment. The child’s half brother, Ronie Williams, testified that he heard Williams yell at the infant to shut up before the crying stopped, the Star-Telegram reported.
Williams later told a Fort Worth detective that he squeezed the infant, fracturing two ribs, shook him, and then threw the baby into the arm of a couch, causing the child to bounce and possibly strike his head against a wall, according to the Star-Telegram. Azari was pronounced dead about six hours later at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
Early reporting from FOX4 KDFW stated that the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the infant died from blunt force injuries sustained at the family’s apartment near Loop 820. The death was ruled a homicide, FOX4 reported. Child Protective Services told FOX4 it had no prior history with the family and joined police in the investigation.
At trial, a pathologist testified that Azari suffered profound brain bleeding and a fractured spinal column, injuries consistent with being thrown into a surface such as the arm of a couch, according to the Star-Telegram.
The prosecution presented testimony from paramedics who responded to the apartment, an emergency medicine physician who concluded the injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma, and a detective who described inconsistencies in Williams’ statements during two interviews, the Star-Telegram reported. Williams initially told investigators the baby went limp in his arms.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Elliott argued during closing arguments that Williams threw the infant “like he was nothing,” according to the Star-Telegram. Elliott prosecuted the case with Charlie Boulware.
Defense attorney Miles Brissette, who represented Williams alongside Bob Gill, argued that manslaughter was the appropriate charge, describing the death as a reckless killing rather than an intentional act. Brissette also challenged the police investigation, eliciting testimony that officers failed to follow Fort Worth Police Department procedures by not creating a crime scene diagram, maintaining a scene log, or properly marking evidence prior to collection, according to the Star-Telegram.
Senior District Judge Everett Young allowed jurors to consider manslaughter as a lesser-included offense over objections from prosecutors. Williams did not testify during either phase of the trial.
During medical examiner testimony, jurors were shown autopsy photographs of the infant. Courtroom observers described visible emotional reactions among jurors as the images were displayed, the Star-Telegram reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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By Jacob Charles
Published: January 26, 2026 8:35 am ET
Alfred Williams (via Tarrant County Corrections Center)
FORT WORTH, TX — A jury has convicted a Texas father of felony murder and injury to a child in the death of his 4-month-old son, concluding the infant died during an act clearly dangerous to human life.
Alfred Williams, 21, was found guilty Thursday in the 213th District Court for the February 2023 death of Azari Williams, according to court records and reporting from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Jurors determined Williams did not intentionally kill the child but caused the death while committing the felony offense of injury to a child, the Star-Telegram reported. He was also convicted of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.
The jury returned Friday to assess punishment, sentencing Williams to 60 years in prison on the felony murder count and 45 years on the injury to a child count. The sentences will run concurrently, and Williams will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years, according to the Star-Telegram.
Testimony during trial established that Azari lived with his parents and an 11-year-old half brother in an apartment near Hulen Mall in south Fort Worth. Williams was the infant’s primary caregiver while the child’s mother worked 12-hour shifts at a hospital, according to the Star-Telegram.
On the evening of the incident in February 2023, the baby began crying inside the apartment. The child’s half brother, Ronie Williams, testified that he heard Williams yell at the infant to shut up before the crying stopped, the Star-Telegram reported.
Williams later told a Fort Worth detective that he squeezed the infant, fracturing two ribs, shook him, and then threw the baby into the arm of a couch, causing the child to bounce and possibly strike his head against a wall, according to the Star-Telegram. Azari was pronounced dead about six hours later at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
Early reporting from FOX4 KDFW stated that the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the infant died from blunt force injuries sustained at the family’s apartment near Loop 820. The death was ruled a homicide, FOX4 reported. Child Protective Services told FOX4 it had no prior history with the family and joined police in the investigation.
At trial, a pathologist testified that Azari suffered profound brain bleeding and a fractured spinal column, injuries consistent with being thrown into a surface such as the arm of a couch, according to the Star-Telegram.
The prosecution presented testimony from paramedics who responded to the apartment, an emergency medicine physician who concluded the injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma, and a detective who described inconsistencies in Williams’ statements during two interviews, the Star-Telegram reported. Williams initially told investigators the baby went limp in his arms.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Elliott argued during closing arguments that Williams threw the infant “like he was nothing,” according to the Star-Telegram. Elliott prosecuted the case with Charlie Boulware.
Defense attorney Miles Brissette, who represented Williams alongside Bob Gill, argued that manslaughter was the appropriate charge, describing the death as a reckless killing rather than an intentional act. Brissette also challenged the police investigation, eliciting testimony that officers failed to follow Fort Worth Police Department procedures by not creating a crime scene diagram, maintaining a scene log, or properly marking evidence prior to collection, according to the Star-Telegram.
Senior District Judge Everett Young allowed jurors to consider manslaughter as a lesser-included offense over objections from prosecutors. Williams did not testify during either phase of the trial.
During medical examiner testimony, jurors were shown autopsy photographs of the infant. Courtroom observers described visible emotional reactions among jurors as the images were displayed, the Star-Telegram reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Jury Finds Father Did Not Intend to Kill Infant but Caused Fatal Injuries
A Fort Worth jury determined the infant’s death was not intentional but resulted from violent actions that caused catastrophic injuries.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 26, 2026 8:35 am ET
Alfred Williams (via Tarrant County Corrections Center)
FORT WORTH, TX — A jury has convicted a Texas father of felony murder and injury to a child in the death of his 4-month-old son, concluding the infant died during an act clearly dangerous to human life.
Alfred Williams, 21, was found guilty Thursday in the 213th District Court for the February 2023 death of Azari Williams, according to court records and reporting from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Jurors determined Williams did not intentionally kill the child but caused the death while committing the felony offense of injury to a child, the Star-Telegram reported. He was also convicted of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.
The jury returned Friday to assess punishment, sentencing Williams to 60 years in prison on the felony murder count and 45 years on the injury to a child count. The sentences will run concurrently, and Williams will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years, according to the Star-Telegram.
Testimony during trial established that Azari lived with his parents and an 11-year-old half brother in an apartment near Hulen Mall in south Fort Worth. Williams was the infant’s primary caregiver while the child’s mother worked 12-hour shifts at a hospital, according to the Star-Telegram.
On the evening of the incident in February 2023, the baby began crying inside the apartment. The child’s half brother, Ronie Williams, testified that he heard Williams yell at the infant to shut up before the crying stopped, the Star-Telegram reported.
Williams later told a Fort Worth detective that he squeezed the infant, fracturing two ribs, shook him, and then threw the baby into the arm of a couch, causing the child to bounce and possibly strike his head against a wall, according to the Star-Telegram. Azari was pronounced dead about six hours later at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
Early reporting from FOX4 KDFW stated that the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the infant died from blunt force injuries sustained at the family’s apartment near Loop 820. The death was ruled a homicide, FOX4 reported. Child Protective Services told FOX4 it had no prior history with the family and joined police in the investigation.
At trial, a pathologist testified that Azari suffered profound brain bleeding and a fractured spinal column, injuries consistent with being thrown into a surface such as the arm of a couch, according to the Star-Telegram.
The prosecution presented testimony from paramedics who responded to the apartment, an emergency medicine physician who concluded the injuries were caused by non-accidental trauma, and a detective who described inconsistencies in Williams’ statements during two interviews, the Star-Telegram reported. Williams initially told investigators the baby went limp in his arms.
Assistant District Attorney Steven Elliott argued during closing arguments that Williams threw the infant “like he was nothing,” according to the Star-Telegram. Elliott prosecuted the case with Charlie Boulware.
Defense attorney Miles Brissette, who represented Williams alongside Bob Gill, argued that manslaughter was the appropriate charge, describing the death as a reckless killing rather than an intentional act. Brissette also challenged the police investigation, eliciting testimony that officers failed to follow Fort Worth Police Department procedures by not creating a crime scene diagram, maintaining a scene log, or properly marking evidence prior to collection, according to the Star-Telegram.
Senior District Judge Everett Young allowed jurors to consider manslaughter as a lesser-included offense over objections from prosecutors. Williams did not testify during either phase of the trial.
During medical examiner testimony, jurors were shown autopsy photographs of the infant. Courtroom observers described visible emotional reactions among jurors as the images were displayed, the Star-Telegram reported.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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