Avantae Williams is a former college football safety who was recently charged with second-degree murder following a deadly shooting, find out more about him and the incident below
Williams previously played for the University of Miami and the University of Maryland and is now in custody.
Who is Avantae Williams, ex-University of Miami and Maryland football player arrested for murder of Keshod Harris in DeLand, Florida
CFB: Ex-Miami, Maryland safety Avantae Williams, No. 1 safety recruit in 2020, arrested and charged with second-degree murder pic.twitter.com/1TaFADqL1G
— Alain Keith Cabardo Daguio (@keithdaguio) May 8, 2025
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Former Maryland DB Avantae Williams has been arrested for murder in Florida.
Police arrested Williams for his involvement in the Saturday shooting at McCabe’s Bar that resulted in the death of 32-year-old Keshod Harris.
Harris was struck by gunshots multiple… pic.twitter.com/v4V2jcHGb3
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 6, 2025
The shooting reportedly took place just outside a Florida bar in the early hours of Saturday morning, killing one.
Avantae Williams charged with murder
Avantae Williams is a former college football safety who was recently charged with murder following a dangerous shootout. According to police, Williams fired multiple shots during a violent altercation at McCabe’s Bar in DeLand, Florida. The incident took place around 1:30 a.m., and several witnesses also reported a fistfight inside the bar that escalated before Williams allegedly drew a gun and opened fire.
Reports stated that the victim, a 32-year-old man named Keshod Harris, was shot six times and died from his injuries. The incident also reportedly injured several others, and authorities arrested Williams shortly after the incident. He is currently being held without bond at Volusia County Jail. According to DeLand police, they are still carrying out the investigation, and Bartender Stephanie Kirby described the scene as “terrifying.” He stated:
BREAKING: 24-year-old Avante Williams arrested for second-degree murder.
Police say he shot a man 6 times at McCabes Bar in DeLand on Saturday.
Coming up at 6 p.m., we hear from the police chief, and a bartender who helped three people escape.
What are they teaching these… pic.twitter.com/hIGafotLpq
— No3 Sports (@No3sports) May 5, 2025
When bullets are flying and you don’t know where they’re gonna land, that’s pretty scary.”
Avantae Williams bio
Avantae Williams is a former four-star football recruit who hails from DeLand, Florida. He was a former football safety and was known for his athleticism and range. Williams was notably one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the 2020 recruiting class.
Age and Height
Williams is currently 24 years old and stands approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall with his weight at 170 pounds.
Education
Avantae Williams attended DeLand High School in Florida during his childhood and later committed to the University of Miami. Williams later transferred to the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 2024 with a major in sociology.
College Football Career
Avantae Williams was ranked as the No. 2 safety and No. 7 overall player in Florida while coming out of high school. He signed with the Miami Hurricanes but eventually missed the 2020 season following an injury. The following year, in 2021, Williams secured 18 tackles and one interception in six games. However, he got suspended for six games following an arrest on domestic violence charges.
The following season in 2022, Williams recorded nine tackles and one fumble recovery in 11 games. However, he failed to secure a starting role, and after struggling with performance, he transferred to Maryland for the 2023 season. During his time there, he made just three tackles in four games.