Donald Wynn Williams: George Floyd murder witness charged with domestic abuse against ex-girlfriend
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Donald Wynn Williams, a mixed martial arts fighter who witnessed the murder of George Floyd and later testified in former police officer Derek Chauvin's trial, has been charged with domestic assault after allegedly attempting to strangle his ex-girlfriend and hitting her in the face after an argument near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
The 34-year-old Minnesota man was arrested following a domestic abuse call and is accused of resisting arrest and threatening to kill the reporting St Paul police officers. Later in an interview, Williams denied strangling or hitting the woman. "He told police that he suffers from PTSD related to Floyd’s death and Chauvin’s trial," documents said.
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Williams was among those who pleaded with police on May 25, 2020, as Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck while three other Minneapolis officers stood by. Williams was among the bystanders who pleaded with Chauvin to ease up on Floyd, even as Floyd lost consciousness. Williams had called 911, telling the dispatcher that Chauvin “just pretty much killed this guy that wasn’t resisting arrest.” Williams, who gave emotional testimony during Chauvin’s state trial last year, said that based on his training he thinks Chauvin was using a blood choke on Floyd, described as “torture.” Derek Chauvin was convicted in April 2021 of Floyd’s murder.
Responding officers met with a woman who said that she and her three children were selling bottles of water when she received a text from her ex-boyfriend, Williams, asking her to buy ice, but she refused as she didn’t want to leave her children by themselves. She and Williams then argued over text messages and when she returned to her vehicle parked at Asbury Street and Midway Parkway, Williams was sitting in his vehicle. She got into her vehicle and Williams began yelling at her about buying ice. Williams got out of his vehicle, approached her driver’s side window, reached into her vehicle grabbed her throat and strangled her. "Williams used his right hand to backhand her on the left side of her face and he only stopped when someone in the area yelled at him," documents said. "She was bruised on her neck and told police that her throat was sore when she swallowed."
Later Williams was found in a nearby location with his 9-year-old daughter, resisted arrest and fought with officers, the complaint alleges. Williams was “verbally hostile” and refused to get into the car. Williams allegedly told officers that if he “could take the cuffs off, he would ‘f**k up’ the officers and kill them.” He also told an officer that he knew who the officer’s family was and would come after them. According to the police report, "Williams told officers that he didn’t comply because he was worried about his 9-year-old daughter being left by herself." He also faces charges for misdemeanor domestic assault-intentionally inflicts/attempts to inflict bodily harm. He reportedly appeared in court on August, 30 and was conditionally released. A hearing has been set for September 26.