Jemarcus Williams: Video shows man drinking before DUI crash that killed 2 cops helping stranded motorist
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Jemarcus Williams, 46, appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Friday, December 1.
Williams is facing charges in connection with the deaths of two Nevada Highway Patrol troopers who were struck and killed while assisting a stranded motorist early morning on Thursday, November 30, 8NewsNow reports.
#BREAKING We have arrested Jemarcus Williams, 46, on multiple charges including DUI above the legal limit resulting in death.
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) December 1, 2023
This is in connection to the deaths of two @NVStatePolice Troopers this morning.
Please read the press release for details: https://t.co/1b3GEbhiRF pic.twitter.com/yAnUoiJ68P
Footage shows Jemarcus Williams drinking heavily in hours before fatal crash
Surveillance footage shows Williams drinking heavily at a Las Vegas casino in the hours leading up to the fatal crash.
Around 1 am, Williams and another man entered the Palms Casino Resort and ordered a bottle of cognac and three vodka drinks at the Ghost Bar, according to documents obtained by investigators.
Over the next two hours, the video shows Williams stumbling around the bar, dropping his phone repeatedly, and using furniture to keep his balance - signs he was highly intoxicated.
At one point, security guards had to escort him out of the casino after generating an incident report about his extreme drunkenness.
Six minutes after leaving, Williams got back into his car was registered to his wife and drove off.
He would soon slam at full speed into Sgt Michael Abbate, 49, and Trooper Alberto Felix, 33, as they stood along I-15 assisting a motorist.
Sgt Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix were pronounced dead at scene
According to investigators, at around 3.23 am, Sgt Abbate and Trooper Felix had stopped to check on a possibly sleeping driver pulled over on the shoulder of I-15 near downtown.
As the two officers stood along the left side of the stopped vehicle, Williams' car crashed directly into them.
Their vehicle's dash camera captured the moment of impact that threw the men dozens of feet into the air. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The stranded motorist was uninjured.
A search of the area ensued, leading officers just over a mile away to an apartment complex where they found Williams' damaged vehicle. He was taken into custody, reeking of alcohol according to investigators.
Jemarcus Williams had prior DUI conviction from 2007
Officers said that at first Williams denied any involvement, stating "I didn't kill them; you should be figuring out who did."
He later switched course, allegedly stating, "It's me, I [expletive] up, I was driving, I wrecked him."
A background check revealed Williams had a prior DUI conviction from 2007.
Prosecutors argued for a $1 million bail, citing the video evidence of heavy pre-crash drinking. But the judge set bail at $500,000 with stringent conditions should Williams make bail.
He now faces two counts each of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving resulting in death.
The crash closed 15 northbound lanes near the Spaghetti Bowl for 12 hours as investigators reconstructed the scene.
