Mikey Williams’ arrest stems from March shooting, sheriff’s department says
Mikey Williams #MikeyWilliams
Mikey Williams, a five-star guard and member of Memphis basketball’s 2023 signing class, was arrested Thursday in connection to a shooting March 27, according to a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department news release.
Michael Anthony Williams, whose birthdate is listed as June 26, 2004, on the arrest report, was booked into San Diego Central Jail at 3:24 p.m. Thursday on five counts of assault with a deadly weapon and released on $50,000 bail shortly after midnight Friday.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department issued a news release Friday afternoon that provided further details and context regarding the incident. According to the release, the incident that led to Williams’ arrest took place on March 27 at a house in the 2600 block of Bratton Valley Road just before midnight in Jamul, an unincorporated area in eastern San Diego County.
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“There was a verbal argument about guests in the house being asked to leave,” the release states. “Five people got into a car and as they were driving away, shots were fired. The car was hit, but no one was hurt.”
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The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at the house on Bratton Valley Road on Thursday and Williams was arrested.
Williams, 18, is expected to appear in an El Cajon courtroom at 8 a.m. on April 20.
According to the news release, three of the occupants of the vehicle that was shot at on March 27 are minors. The sheriff’s department declined to provide any further details, citing the ongoing investigation. It also declined to provide Williams’ booking photo on the grounds that he does not pose an “immediate threat to public safety.”
Text messages sent by The Commercial Appeal to Williams’ father, Mahlon, as well as his uncle and business advisor, Patrick McCain, Friday morning were not immediately returned.
The University of Memphis issued a the following statement Friday morning: “We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information.”
In November, Williams signed a national letter of intent to play college basketball for coach Penny Hardaway at Memphis. Williams, rated a five-star guard and the No. 26 overall recruit in the Class of 2023 by the 247Sports Composite, recently completed his senior season at San Ysidro High School in San Diego.
A social media sensation, with a following on Instagram of more than 3.8 million, Williams’ name, image and likeness is worth an estimated $3.3 million, according to On3.com.
Williams’ Instagram account was deactivated early Friday morning.
Williams is one of four high school seniors signed by Memphis last fall. Hardaway’s Tigers finished 26-9 this season, losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball signee Mikey Williams’ arrest stems from March shooting, sheriff’s department says