The heart-wrenching story of young Deshawn Williams, a vivacious 7-year-old who could light up any room, has left a community in mourning after his brutal and tragic death last weekend.
Deshawn, a sweet and joyful Detroit child, was taken from his family in a shocking incident that has shocked the city. His mother, Alisha Hollamon, aged 23, and her boyfriend, Avion Traylor, aged 21, now face serious charges, including felony murder, first-degree child abuse, and torture in connection with Deshawn’s death.
Deshawn’s father, Delonso Tucker, remembers his son as a bright and smart boy who brought immense happiness into his life. Tucker himself had faced adversity, having been paralyzed in a car crash several years ago and further injured in a subsequent shooting. Despite these challenges, Deshawn’s presence kept his father’s spirits high.
“We took good care of him,” Tucker said. “I tried my best to keep him from that. I tried to get him to go to school out here.”
Tragically, police did not inform Tucker about the extent of Deshawn’s injuries; he learned of the horrifying details through news reports. Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Tina Ripley revealed during Hollamon and Traylor’s arraignments that Deshawn had succumbed to multiple blunt force traumas to the head and pelvis.
The young boy had suffered brain bleeding and a broken pelvis, Ripley explained. His body bore the evidence of unspeakable cruelty, with scratches, scrapes, cuts, and burns covering his face, back, front, legs, and feet. Additionally, he displayed marks and bruises in a semi-circular pattern.
“It looked as though he was dragged across a rough surface,” Ripley stated. “There are just simply no words to describe how absolutely brutalized Deshawn was. Based on the facts and evidence we have, Deshawn lived a nightmare.”
Deshawn was not supposed to be with his mother, Tucker revealed. He had been living with his grandmother after Tucker noticed bruises allegedly inflicted by his mother’s boyfriend. However, Hollamon had taken Deshawn from her mother’s home.
“You just don’t know what would drive people to do this to a child,” Tucker expressed. “If I would’ve known my son was going through that, I would’ve never let him go back.”
The tragic incident came to light when Detroit police responded to a home in the 3700 block of Hurlbut Street shortly after midnight on Sunday. They discovered Deshawn covered in scars and abrasions, and he was rushed to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The shocking nature of his injuries has left the community grappling with anger and grief, demanding justice for Deshawn Williams.
