Robbery suspect arrested after allegedly sparking chase that led to deadly crash
Authorities are looking into the speed of the deputy who was in pursuit of Williams and ultimately crashed into the woman's car.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A robbery suspect wanted in a chase that left a deadly trail of destruction has been arrested.
Davonte Williams, 27, was arrested down the street from his family's home on Glen Manor Thursday night, a day after a chase that ended in a violent crash, killing an innocent woman.
ORIGINAL STORY: Innocent driver killed, 2 kids and HCSO deputy hurt when chase ends in violent crash
At the time of his arrest, Williams was out on bond for two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He had posted bonds totaling $15,000 on those charges in November 2020.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office said Williams' latest charge is a count of evading arrest and detention resulting in death.
A store manager at the Exxon gas station that was robbed Wednesday night said they were relieved when the sheriff's office called on Friday regarding the arrest.
"We've been trying to help customers," said Tauseef Ershad, the store manager. "But in the meanwhile, we were scared too. We don't want to get robbed again."
Williams has been wanted since Wednesday night after two robberies led to a pursuit in northeast Houston and a deadly crash involving a sheriff's deputy.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said it began with the robbery at the Exxon off the Eastex Freeway and Little York, where surveillance video showed a man, who is believed to be Williams, threaten a clerk at gunpoint and then demand the employee put cash and cigarettes into a trash can. Williams is then seen loading up on scratch-off tickets as a customer walks up to the counter and confronts him.
Undeterred by the confrontation, Williams is believed to have driven to a nearby CVS off the Eastex Freeway and Tidwell where he used the gun again to commit a robbery, Gonzalez said. As deputies got word of the back-to-back robberies, they spotted Williams and tried to pull him over. When he did not comply, a pursuit began.
Houston police said a deputy used lights and sirens when he sped through an intersection at Laura Koppe and Lockwood. The deputy's unit collided with a black Kia, causing a fiery aftermath.
The driver of the Kia, Autrey Davis, was killed. Two children in her car were also injured.
"Approximately 5 and 2 years old. We believe the older child is in critical condition. The younger child is in stable condition," said Police Assistant Chief Chandra Hatcher.
Hatcher said the deputy was also taken to the hospital in stable condition. After the crash, the deputy's patrol car briefly caught fire.
Surveillance video obtained by ABC13 also shows the deputy's unit slam into parked cars in the parking lot of a store. There's a lot of fire and smoke, and at one point, you can see a group of people appear to carry someone into the store.
The deputy was pulled to safety by fast-acting good Samaritans.
"The police car was on fire so me and two more gentlemen climbed over the car, got him out, pulled him, took him inside the store, checked his pulse, made sure he was breathing. Got him to stay with me, I said, 'Keep your eyes up. Stay with me. Help is on the way.' And I'm just thankful that I was where I was with those two gentlemen with me because I couldn't have gotten him out by myself," said one of the people who rushed to the rescue on Wednesday.
Authorities are looking into the speeds during the chase, but said they expect the investigation to take a while.
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO: Aftermath of violent crash shows frantic efforts to help after chase
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Eyewitness News is gathering information on the person suspected of leading the deadly chase. Get updates by following Roxie Bustamante on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
