[Archived] Defendant Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Serve 33 Years, for First Degree Murder, Animal Cruelty, and Malicious Wounding

For Immediate release: April 5, 2018

On April 5, 2018, Melvin John Williams, a 23-year old Alexandria resident, pleaded guilty to a four-count indictment charging: Murder in the First Degree-Felony, Malicious Wounding-Felony, Impeding a Police Officer-Misdemeanor, and Animal Cruelty-Misdemeanor. Williams was subsequently sentenced to serve 33 years in the penitentiary.

The evidence established Williams stabbed the victim, DaSheria Barksdale, to death in the second-floor bedroom of a residence located in the 900 block of North Henry Street. Williams and Ms. Barksdale had been involved in a domestic relationship and had lived together at that residence for about two years. Two days prior to the murder Williams recorded videos in which he threatened Ms. Barksdale's kitten. Williams, in an attempt to lash out at Ms. Barksdale, cruelly attacked the kitten and fractured its leg. This incident caused Ms. Barksdale to end the relationship and she subsequently asked Williams to move out.

In the early morning hours of September 14, 2017, there was a gathering of people at the residence on North Henry Street, and both Williams and Ms Barksdale were present. Shortly after 1:00 a.m. Williams followed Ms. Barksdale into the upstairs bedroom. Shortly thereafter people heard Ms. Barksdale screaming. Multiple people at the gathering observed Williams holding Ms. Barksdale at knife point inside the bedroom. One individual at the gathering entered the bedroom and attempted to use force to defend Ms. Barksdale; however, he was stabbed multiple times in the groin by Williams and thereafter jumped out of a second-story window to escape.

Police were called and found Williams barricaded inside the bedroom with Ms. Barksdale. Williams yelled at police: "I've killed her. Now you'll have to kill me." Police forced open the bedroom door and found Williams inside armed with a knife. Ms. Barksdale was lying on the floor. She had suffered multiple stab wounds which were later determined to have caused her death.

Williams defied the officers' commands and refused to put down the knife. Officers utilized electronic control devices, commonly referred to as Tasers, in an effort to subdue Williams; however, Williams did not drop the knife and eventually turned the knife on himself. He was eventually taken into custody after a brief struggle and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his self-inflicted injuries. He remained hospitalized for several days. Upon discharge he was taken to the Truesdale Adult Detention Center where he has remained during the pendency of the case.

Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter said: "DaSheria Barksdale was a wonderful, caring human being and my thoughts are with her mother, her friends, and her family, all of whom were traumatized by this senseless tragedy."

"Domestic-related violence remains a clear and present problem in our community. In this case, the defendant's cruel and callous infliction of injury upon a defenseless animal was the signpost of further violence to come. Animal cruelty is, by itself, a serious crime and it is often linked to violence against domestic partners."

"In his rage, the defendant lashed out against the person whom he allegedly loved. Nothing could be further from the truth. There was no love in hi heart, only a desire to manipulate, control, and ultimately punish Ms. Barksdale for deciding that she wanted out of the relationship. The defendant now has three decades in a maximum-security prison to reflect upon the monstrous wrong he perpetrated."

"I would like to commend by name Alexandria Police Officers Nawaz and Vitale, who arrested the defendant. They arrived at a chaotic scene, intervened and were able to arrest the defendant without resorting to deadly force. These officers should be praised for using less-than-lethal force against an armed an violent suspect, ending this terrible situation without further loss of life."

Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter and Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Sean A. Sherlock prosecuted the matter on the behalf of the Commonwealth. The case was investigated by Detective Loren King of the Alexandria Police Department.

The defendant was sentenced to serve 102 years in the penitentiary with all but 33 years of that sentence suspended upon the following conditions: 50 years of uniform good behavior upon release, 20 years of supervised probation upon release, and the payment of restitution. There is no parole in Virginia.

The defendant remains incarcerated in the Truesdale Adult Detention Center pending transfer of custody to the Department of Corrections for service of his sentence.