Road rage shooting death of Wichita grandma by motorcyclist brings 27-year sentence
Daryon R. Boone held his mother and the two rocked back and forth together at the back of a courtroom on Thursday at the Sedgwick County Courthouse.
Soon after, when his case was called, the 20-year-old Wichita man was sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison for the second-degree murder of 69-year-old Norma Williams of Wichita and attempted first-degree murder of her husband of 52 years, George Williams.
“As a 19-year-old kid I made a horrible mistake that affected so many people and if I could take it back, I would,” Boone said before sentencing.
Sedgwick County District Judge Jeffrey Goering said he received about a dozen letters in support of Boone. There were at least a couple dozen people in the courtroom in support of him.
Family and friends of the victim filled in the rest of the courtroom. George Williams, their children and grandchildren and a family friend all spoke before Boone was sentenced.
They described Norma Williams as a loving grandmother who attended all events she could to support her grandchildren.
Grandson Collin Williams said that night, when his grandparents watched him play football before she died, was one of the best and worst of his life.
“My Nana was so proud of me,” he said.
For all of their lives, her son, Jason Williams said, every event that is supposed to be happy, such as marriages and graduations, will be overshadowed with sadness at the loss of their family member.
“We are the ones serving a life sentence without my mom,” he said.
George Williams said Boone “murdered my beautiful soulmate.” He paused for a little while and said he couldn’t go on.
Other family members expressed similar sentiments during and after the sentencing.
What happened
Around 9:50 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2023, George Williams was driving their 2021 Honda Ridgeline north on Greenwich. Norma Williams was a passenger.
The Williamses were coming back from the football game after watching their grandson play. After they watched the game and spent time with their family, Norma Williams told her son that they’d have many more Friday night games to come.
“Those words will haunt me forever,” Jason Williams said.
Police said Boone, who was riding a motorcycle, hit the Williamses’ vehicle, which resulted in a road rage incident.
One rider told police that other motorcyclists were blocking the road as other riders ran the red light when a truck, the Ridgeline, came through the blockade, court records said. The rider then saw Boone chase after the truck on his motorcycle.
Boone pulled a handgun and shot into the truck, fatally striking Norma Williams in the head, police said.
After the sentencing, Boone’s mother, Jarea Jarrell, said that her son is the one who was struck and shot out of fear.
Boone was arrested the day after the shooting and bonded out a couple days after that. He was free until his sentencing.
As he turned around to be handcuffed, his mother loudly said: “I love you Daryon. I love you so much.”
In the hallway, his 18-year-old brother, Laydon Boone, told the people who came to support his brother that they needed them to stay positive and use what happened as motivation to do better, so that they could help support him through his time and when he gets out.
“He’s my brother and the world means nothing without my brother by my side,” he said.
Jarrell called the sentence excessive.
She said she was sorry for the victim’s family, but felt they didn’t know his side of what happened that night.
“I am sorry for the pain that my son caused them that they are having to feel every day, wake up everyday without their mom,” she said.
Defense attorney Phillip White said they would not appeal the decision, which fell in line with the plea agreement. Boone was given 166 months for the second-degree murder charge and 155 months for the attempted first-degree murder charge.
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 6:04 PM.