Pierce County prosecutors on Wednesday charged a 39-year-old man with murdering his mother and trying to murder his father during what sheriff’s deputies said was an apparent drug-filled rage.
Lavonn Williams II is to be arraigned in Superior Court today on one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Commissioner Meagan Foley ordered him held without bail until then.
Williams’ mother, Brenda Williams, 56, died early Tuesday from head wounds after apparently being beaten with a wooden chair. His father, 64-year-old Lavonn Williams, remained hospitalized Wednesday with head injuries. Prosecutors said the elder Williams was beaten with a vacuum cleaner.
Defense attorney Karen Schumacher said Wednesday she intends to ask that the younger Williams be sent to Western State Hospital for a mental-health evaluation.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to Brenda Williams’ apartment in the 15500 block of Spanaway Loop Road South about 10 p.m. Monday regarding a burglary in progress.
Deputies heard a commotion inside the apartment, court records show. The landlord let them inside, where they found Brenda and Lavonn Williams unconscious on the floor covered in blood and their son standing nearby with blood on his hands, the records state.
Brenda Williams had cancer and was being cared for by her ex-husband, Lavonn Williams, court records show. Their son had been staying with them temporarily, the records state.
The elder Lavonn Williams briefly regained consciousness and told deputies there had been a dispute earlier in the evening and that he and his ex-wife had asked their son to leave. He complied but returned later and attacked his parents, the elder Williams said.
Brenda Williams died Tuesday at a hospital.
Lavonn Williams II has previous felony convictions for assault and possessing guns and weapons, court records indicate.
Adam Lynn, adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com
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