DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A judge denied bond to a man accused of killing the new boyfriend of his child’s mother.
Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes was in the courtroom for the hearing. Keenan Williams is charged with malice murder in the death of Cole Pitter.
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Pitter was shot on his girlfriend’s doorstep in Lithonia on July 6. His family said they were relieved the accused did not receive bond and would have feared for their lives if he was out of jail.
“You never know who a person is or what can make a person snap – it’s kind of scary,“ said Cinamone Pitter, the victim’s sister.
The prosecution said phone records showed he waited in the bushes for two hours on multiple days, including the night of the murder.
Investigators say Williams started harassing the victim two months before the murder, by shooting up his car while Pitter was visiting his girlfriend’s hpome. Then one week before the murder, police say Williams broke into the home while Pitter was there.
State prosecutor Simone Hylton said Williams worked for DeKalb County Department of Public Health when he killed Pitter. He was fired after his arrest.
Investigators also said a Flock camera captured Williams’ car leaving the scene minutes after the shooting. Pitter was shot 10 times.
Williams’ defense attorney argued the shooting was in self defense.
Pitter, an engineer and Georgia State graduate, was previously described by his family as a beloved member of the community.
“He had a positive impact on everybody he met,” said Chaz Pitter, Cole’s brother. “Everybody loved him because he kept in contact with everyone.”
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