Retired Fire Chief and Teen Daughter Murdered in Ferguson Home Shooting
A retired fire chief and his teenage daughter were shot to death inside their home in Ferguson, Missouri, in a tragic incident that police have described as domestic violence. The bodies of Henry Williams, 63, and Ha’layna Elliot, 15, were discovered by distraught family members at their residence on Saturday evening.
Suspect Barricaded in Bedroom with Revolver
According to a criminal complaint, family members spoke to Williams at around 5:30pm on Saturday and made plans to meet him at his house. When they arrived at 6:11pm, they found Williams in the kitchen with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Ha’layna was discovered in her bedroom, shot in the forehead.
Officers with the Ferguson Police Department found Williams' live-in girlfriend, Linda Hayden, 61, barricaded in the master bedroom. She was discovered alongside a .38 caliber revolver with two spent casings in the cylinder and three live rounds.
Domestic Violence Motive Suspected
Police are treating this as a domestic violence incident and have said there is no ongoing threat to the community. Hayden reportedly made a spontaneous statement to officers, saying she guessed she was the villain in the story and that Williams was a bad man and a narcissist.
Hayden has been charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action. If convicted, she faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole. After police described her as a danger to the community, a judge set her cash-only bond at $2 million.
Community Mourns Beloved Coach and Rising Star
The deaths have devastated friends and family. Henry Williams served several decades as a firefighter and had coached girls' basketball for many years after retirement. Ha’layna was a star basketball player in the middle of her sophomore year at Pattonville High School.
Willie Williams, who is not related to Henry but treated him as a father figure, told KSDK-TV: "Coach Henry was not just an amazing coach, but an amazing father and an amazing person. It’s tough because Coach Henry was retired. Everything he was doing was volunteer."
Ha’layna's teammate, Jael Williams, commented on her basketball skills: "Every time she shot the ball, we all watched, and it went in every time." Jael also recalled fond memories of Henry Williams coaching her since sixth grade, including him teaching her how to shoot when she struggled.
Shock from Suspect's Friends and Family
Hayden's friends expressed shock at the allegations. Her best friend, Cheryl Foutz, told KSDK-TV: "We know that she is not this kind of person who would just kill two people. It's very shocking. It's very heartbreaking to many of us."
Hayden's family released a statement saying: "I know she's no monster. I love her from my heart, and I’m praying for God to work through her as she is sitting there."
The investigation continues as the community mourns the loss of a respected former public servant and a promising young athlete.
