Tiliek Shamel Thompson, 41, has been charged with murder in the death of Lovay Williams, a 27-year-old mother who was killed in her Washington Heights apartment in front of her 7-year-old daughter. Thompson surrendered to police at the 33rd Precinct on Saturday, according to his attorney, Neville Dexter.
Police found Williams unresponsive with injuries to her face and neck at her apartment at 535 W. 156th St. on Sept. 6. Emergency medical services pronounced her dead at the scene. Her young daughter was present in the apartment during the incident.
Thompson had initially been identified as a person of interest in the case. Dexter stated that his client surrendered after being implicated on social media. "Everybody should reserve judgement," Dexter said. "We don’t know what happened."
Williams' brother, Nuquan Williams, expressed a desire for accountability for his sister's killer. "Man up to the things you did! It was horrific. You don’t deserve to walk the streets and enjoy life when you took a life," he told The Post.
Asia Walker, who identified herself as Williams' "God sister," said Thompson and Williams had been in a relationship for a significant period. "It’s confusing to me because we knew this man for too long," Walker said. "I don’t even know what caused this. I can’t remember her saying they even argued before."
Walker also expressed that Thompson's surrender would bring some relief to Williams' family. "Honestly, I know we ain’t gotta worry about him hurting nobody else and my niece can be at ease," she said. "Tomorrow will be a little better for me. I could sleep at night." A memorial of balloons, flowers, and candles has been placed outside Williams' apartment building.
