Third trial for man charged with 2020 New Kensington killing begins

For the third time in the last 18 months, a Westmoreland County jury is hearing evidence against a New Kensington man charged with the fatal shooting of an Arnold drug dealer nearly five years ago.

Letresse Tareke Williams, 35, is charged with second degree murder, robbery and other related offenses in connection with the Jan. 15, 2020 fatal shooting of 33-year-old Anthone Williams outside an unoccupied housing complex in New Kensington. Prosecutors contend Letresse Williams was one of two men who shot and killed Anthone Williams inside a car during a botched robbery. Letresse Williams and Anthone Williams were not related, prosecutors said.

The jury was seated late last week. Testimony started Monday before Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears.

Two previous trials for Letresse Williams, one in June 2024 and another last August, ended in mistrials after jurors were unable to reach unanimous verdicts on all counts. In both trials, jurors reported 11 of 12 members voted to convict of second-degree murder.

Letresse Williams, following his first trial, was found not guilty of first-degree murder, a crime that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A conviction of second-degree murder also carries a mandatory life sentence in Pennsylvania.

Prosecutors contend Letresse Williams fired two shots, including the round that resulted in the victim’s death. A second shooter was never charged.

Police said a cell phone linked to Letresse Williams was left in the vehicle where the victim’s lifeless body was found. DNA linked to Letresse Williams was discovered on the SIM card inside of that cell phone as well as inside the barrel of the suspected murder weapon.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli told jurors in his opening statement that evidence will show the murder was a result of a robbery that had been previously planned.

“Anthone Williams is the victim but the penalty for selling cocaine is not the death penalty,” Iannamorelli said.

Letresse Williams testified in his own defense during his first two trials and denied participating in the murder. He claimed he lent his cellphone to another man and weeks before the shooting and sold the suspected murder weapon that was eventually found by police hidden under a board in nearby woods several hundred feet from where the fatal shooting occurred.

Defense attorney Jaclyn Shaw told jurors the prosecution’s evidence is not sufficient to prove her client committed a robbery or murder.

“There are no eyewitnesses and the commonwealth will struggle to prove it,” Shaw said.

Letresse Williams has been in jail without bond since his arrest. He is also facing trial on four counts of attempted murder in connection with allegations he fired shots at four people outside of a parked vehicle on a New Kensington street on Dec. 1, 2019. Prosecutors contend the gun used to kill Anthone Williams was the same weapon used in the December drive-by shooting.

According to testimony from Letresse Williams’ previous trials, he admitted to possessing the weapon used in the earlier incident.