LITHONIA, Ga. (September 5, 2025) – Keenan Maxwell Williams, 35, has been denied bond after prosecutors say he hid in bushes for hours outside his ex-girlfriend’s home before fatally shooting her new boyfriend, 36-year-old Cole Pitter, at her doorstep.
Williams appeared in court this week, facing charges in connection with the July 6 shooting. Prosecutors described the killing as a planned and deliberate ambush, carried out after a long history of harassment and violence.
According to investigators, Williams — who shares a child with his ex-girlfriend — hid in bushes outside her Lithonia home for hours before confronting Pitter as he arrived at the residence. Prosecutors say that when Pitter reached the doorstep, Williams opened fire, killing him instantly.
Authorities also revealed a troubling pattern of behavior leading up to the fatal encounter. Months earlier, Williams allegedly shot at Pitter’s car, and just one week before the killing, he is accused of breaking into the same house. Prosecutors argued that these incidents demonstrate escalating hostility and intent.
During the bond hearing, Judge Desiree Sutton Peagler denied Williams’ request for release, stating firmly: “Bond denied.”
Williams’ attorney argued that he acted in self-defense, but prosecutors countered that the evidence overwhelmingly points to premeditation, citing both surveillance footage and witness testimony.
Williams was arrested nearly a month after the shooting, on August 5, and has remained in custody since. He now awaits trial on charges that could carry a life sentence.
The case has shaken the Lithonia community, with neighbors describing the incident as a chilling example of domestic disputes turning deadly. Advocates are also pointing to the tragedy as a reminder of the dangers victims face when attempting to move forward from abusive relationships.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare for trial.
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