A Pottsville man facing numerous felony gun and assault charges waived his right to a preliminary hearing last week.
Kenneth Williams is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison since an incident in early June on Race St. in Pottsville during which he allegedly fired a gun inside a home.
According to an affidavit filed by Pottsville Police, on June 5 at about 6 p.m., authorities were summoned to 811 W. Race St. in the city for a report of shots fired and a woman in the street screaming “He shot my baby!”
When police arrived, the woman reportedly said that Williams, her ex-boyfriend, fired a gun inside her home on Race St. before fleeing on Speacht St.
Earlier that day, the woman told police, she apparently told Williams that she didn’t want to be in a relationship with him anymore. That didn’t go over well with Williams.
Williams became angry when he heard this, police say the woman told them. He allegedly dumped alcohol on the woman and then pointed a black handgun in her face.
“I’m going to follow you,” Williams reportedly told the woman as he pointed a gun in her face.
As the woman’s mother entered the home through the back door, Williams was reportedly in the dining room. Williams then allegedly pointed the gun at the side of the victim’s 1-year-old son while he was sitting in a chair.
“Don’t think … I’ll hit him, too,” Williams reportedly said with the gun pointed at the child.
While this happened, the victim had her 2-year-old daughter next to hear. The next thing she remembers, police say, is hearing a loud bang. That caused her ears to ring.
She grabbed both children and ran out of the house through the front door. As she got to the street, she screamed for neighbors to call 9-1-1.
Through an investigation into Williams’ criminal history, Pottsville Police learned that he was not permitted to handle or own a gun due to a conviction in New York back in 2004.
Two aggravated assault charges against Williams were withdrawn but the following were waived to County court:
- Probited possession of a firearm
- Carrying a gun without a license
- Agrravated assult
- Terroristic threats
- Discharging a gun inside a home.
Williams has been in Schuylkill County Prison since June 5, unable to post $75,000 bail.
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