Khisa Williams Murder Case: Wilson Man Faces First-Degree Charge
A Raleigh arrest brings a major development in the fatal shooting of 54-year-old Khisa Hhalille Williams, but the case is only beginning.
The Khisa Williams murder case has taken a major step forward. Police say a 54-year-old Wilson, North Carolina, man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Khisa Hhalille Williams, four days after she was shot during what authorities described as a domestic incident at a Wilson gas station.
Devone Sharnell Best, 54, of Wilson, was arrested Tuesday, August 18, in Raleigh with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Task Force, according to published reports citing Wilson police. Best faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was returned to Wilson and is being held in the Wilson County Jail without bond.
The charges are allegations. Best is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What Happened to Khisa Hhalille Williams?
Wilson police said officers were called to the Shell gas station at 4945 Raleigh Road Parkway shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday, August 15, for what was initially reported as a domestic incident. While officers were responding, dispatchers told them that a woman had been shot.
When officers arrived, they found Williams, 54, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Williams was transported toward UNC Health for emergency treatment, but police said she died before reaching the hospital.
The initial reports did not identify a suspect or announce an arrest. By Tuesday, however, investigators had located Best in Raleigh.
Suspect Arrested Three Days After Shooting
Best was arrested on August 18, according to Wilson police. WCTI reported that the Wilson Police Department worked with the U.S. Marshals Task Force to take him into custody.
Police have charged him with:
- First-degree murder
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
WRAL reported that Best was transported back to Wilson following the Raleigh arrest and was being held without bond.
Authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of what investigators believe happened immediately before the shooting. They also have not disclosed, in the verified sources reviewed for this report, the exact relationship between Williams and Best.
Those details should not be assumed until police, prosecutors or court records establish them.
Previous Felony Conviction Reported
WCTI reported that court records show Best had a previous felony conviction connected to a June 28, 2005 incident. According to the station’s review of those records, Best pleaded guilty in March 2006 to attempted assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and received an active prison sentence of 35 to 42 months.
That reported conviction is significant because Best now faces a separate charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
However, a prior conviction does not establish guilt in the current case. The murder charge arising from Williams’ death must be decided through the criminal justice process based on the evidence in this case.
A Domestic Violence Case With a Wider Meaning
Police described the August 15 call as a domestic incident, placing Williams’ death within a broader public safety issue facing communities across North Carolina and the country.
In May, the North Carolina Department of Justice announced a new statewide effort to bring domestic violence fatality review teams together and study how deadly incidents might be prevented. As of March 2026, the department said 13 people in North Carolina had died in domestic violence-related homicides and suicides during the year.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said the effort is intended to identify stronger ways to protect victims.
“We are committed to protecting the people of North Carolina from domestic violence,” Jackson said in announcing the initiative.
The state says domestic violence fatality review teams can include prosecutors, police officers, survivors, medical examiners, social service providers and domestic violence advocates. Their goal is to examine how fatal incidents occurred and identify opportunities for prevention.
Firearms Remain a Major Factor in Intimate Partner Homicides
National data also show why domestic violence involving firearms demands attention.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of female intimate partner homicides recorded through the National Violent Death Reporting System found that 66.6 percent of those incidents involved a firearm during the 2018 through 2021 study period.
The CDC also reports that roughly one in five homicide victims nationally are killed by an intimate partner, and more than half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.
Those national statistics do not tell investigators what happened in Williams’ individual case. But they show why advocates and law enforcement agencies continue to treat domestic violence as both a criminal justice concern and a preventable public health problem.
North Carolina Expands Prevention Efforts
North Carolina’s Department of Justice has promoted tools designed to identify people who may be at high risk for severe or fatal domestic violence.
One program is the state’s Lethality Assessment Protocol, which is designed to help law enforcement identify danger signs and connect victims with services. The department says research has shown the assessment can identify many women facing near-fatal violence.
North Carolina courts also allow qualifying victims to seek a Domestic Violence Protective Order, commonly called a DVPO or 50B order. Such an order can require an alleged abuser to stay away from the person seeking protection.
No verified information reviewed for this article establishes whether Williams had sought a protective order or previously reported domestic violence involving Best. It would be inappropriate to suggest otherwise without documentation.
Questions Remain as the Murder Case Moves Forward
The arrest provides an important answer to one question surrounding Williams’ death, but much remains unknown.
Among the issues that could emerge through police statements and court proceedings are:
- What evidence led investigators to charge Best with first-degree murder?
- What happened immediately before the shooting?
- What was the relationship between Williams and Best?
- Were police aware of earlier incidents involving the two?
- What evidence will prosecutors present to support the firearm charge?
- When will Best make his next court appearance?
As of the latest verified reporting reviewed Wednesday, August 19, police had not publicly answered all of those questions.
Remembering the Victim, Not Only the Charge
Criminal cases can quickly become centered on defendants, charges, warrants and court hearings. But at the center of this case is a woman who lost her life.
Khisa Hhalille Williams was 54 years old.
Her death has now moved from an active homicide investigation into a criminal prosecution that could take months or longer to resolve.
The public should follow that process carefully, while remembering that an arrest is not a conviction and that Williams’ death represents far more than a police case number.
Domestic violence deaths also raise difficult questions for communities about warning signs, intervention and access to help. Those questions should be asked without blaming victims.
As Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather said while discussing North Carolina’s domestic violence fatality review initiative, examining what might have prevented a tragedy is not about second-guessing. It is about finding ways to stop another death.
What Happens Next
The criminal case against Best will now move through North Carolina’s court system.
Wilson police are continuing to seek information about the case. WRAL reports that anyone with information can contact the Wilson Police Department at 252-399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 252-243-2255.
For readers, the responsibility is also broader. Take threats and signs of domestic violence seriously. Support people who say they are afraid. Encourage victims to connect with trained domestic violence advocates, law enforcement or local victim-service organizations when it is safe to do so.
Khisa Williams’ death cannot be undone. The investigation and court process may establish accountability. The larger challenge is making sure communities learn from cases like hers and work to prevent the next family from experiencing the same loss.
