DC Man Sentenced to 45 Years for 2022 Apartment Shooting

Wonell Jones, Jr., 38, received a 45-year prison sentence in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for the 2022 murder of Audora Williams. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Jones must also complete five years of supervised release upon his release from prison.

Jones was convicted of murder and gun offenses in July. The incident occurred on July 19, 2022, in the 2900 block of Knox Place in the Southeast neighborhood. Court records show that Jones had recently returned from a grocery trip with one of Williams’ sons. Surveillance footage from the building captured him entering the apartment with the child.

Eight children were present in the home at the time. The group included three of Jones’ children, three of Williams’ children, and a shared toddler and baby. Williams held a temporary protective order against Jones that day, which prohibited contact between them. A trial regarding the protective order was scheduled for days later.

According to court documents, Jones entered Williams’ room and shut the door. He then started a loud argument, accusing her of infidelity. The volume of his screaming increased before gunfire erupted. Jones stepped out of the room to fire additional shots before fleeing the apartment, leaving the eight children behind.

Williams sustained more than 20 gunshot wounds from two separate firearms. Jones was located in Florida on August 29, 2022. He was extradited to the District in October 2022 and has remained in custody since that date.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro addressed the severity of the crime during the sentencing. "Audora Williams was shot more than twenty times with two guns, an act of violence as staggering as it is senseless," Pirro said. She noted that Jones fled the district but was eventually brought back to face the consequences of his actions.

The sentencing concludes the immediate legal proceedings for Jones in the District. The court ordered his imprisonment to begin following his current custody period in Florida.