Lower Bail Sought for Son of Ex-Cowboys Player

A judge is expected to decide Friday whether to reduce the bail for the son of former Dallas Cowboys lineman Erik Williams, who faces two charges of capital murder in connection with a drug robbery in Mesquite.

Cassius Williams, 20, was booked into the Dallas County jail a week ago in connection with a shooting June 12 that left two teens dead. His bail has been set at $1 million — $500,000 for each charge.

Williams was arrested and charged with murder along with Rozman Rah-saan Shannon Jr., 21. Dalton James Prater, 18, and Jacob Bradley Hollett, 19, were found shot near Gus Thomasson Road and Whitson Way around 4 p.m. that day. Police said Williams and Shannon met with the victims intending to buy drugs from them.

Williams’ attorney, David Finn, filed a motion to reduce his bail last week, because he says Williams didn’t fire a weapon during the robbery.

A Mesquite detective corroborated that account during testimony at a hearing Monday, Finn said.

In an arrest warrant affidavit, police said Williams drove his White Jeep Patriot to and from the scene of the robbery.

The vehicle was shown in surveillance video released by Mesquite police.

The account of the shooting from police says one suspect, who is described as having a box-style haircut, approached one of the victim’s cars and pulled out a handgun before shooting at the two teens.

A witness told police that the other suspect, described by police as having dreadlocks, stayed in the Jeep, according to the affidavit.

Finn said Williams had dreadlocks at the time of the slayings, but cut them off before he was arrested. When Williams was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge earlier this year, his book-in photo at the Garland jail depicts him with dreadlocks, the affidavit said.

“The bottom line was, there’s evidence that my guy, Cassius, did not exit the vehicle,”

Finn said after Monday’s bail reduction hearing. “He didn’t shoot anyone, and he didn’t shoot at anyone.”

Finn said he didn’t believe Williams had any prior knowledge that the shooting would take place. Under Texas law, someone who solicits, encourages or aids another person in committing a criminal offense can be held equally responsible for the offense. Erik Williams, who said he is on full disability and recently had two hip replacement surgeries, spoke at the hearing in support of a lowered bail for his son, Finn said. Other questions remain as the case moves forward.

“Is the state going to pursue the death penalty? For my guy, I think that’s doubtful. But as to the shooter, I don’t know,” he said. “It’s too early to tell.”