Jury deciding sanity of bus shooter to return Wednesday
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A Kern County jury is experiencing difficulty in deciding whether Anthony Devonte Williams was sane when he opened fire on a crowded Greyhound bus four years ago.
“We are at an impasse,” the jury foreperson wrote in a note to the court at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The foreperson said they took three votes and were unable to reach a verdict. They’ve been deliberating about seven hours.
Judge Judith K. Dulcich told them to think about whether having testimony read back, or listening to further argument from attorneys, could help in reaching a decision.
The jury will return 9 a.m. Wednesday.
If found insane, Williams, 37, will be sent to a mental hospital, possibly for life. If found sane, he’ll be sent to state prison to serve a life term.
Earlier this month, Williams was found guilty of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder, among other offenses. The sanity phase of his trial began immediately afterward, with witnesses including psychiatrists testifying on whether they believed he was legally insane at the time of the shooting.
Early Feb. 3, 2020, Williams began shooting on a bus traveling north on Interstate 5 over the Grapevine. Lurbis Elena Vance, 51, was hit multiple times and died at the scene, and another woman was hit and paralyzed from the chest down. Four others were also struck.
Williams got off the bus after the gun was wrestled away. Arrested soon after while walking along the highway, he admitted bringing the gun onto the bus headed from Los Angeles to Oakland. He said he began shooting after arguing with a man.
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