Semaj Williams

SHREVEPORT, La. – The conviction of a Bossier Parish man in 2025 for killing a homeowner who caught him trying to burglarize his car has been upheld by an appellate court. However, his 38-year sentence has been sent back to the trial court.

Semaj Williams, 19, was convicted in a bench trial of manslaughter in the death of Michael Hawkins. Williams was originally charged with second-degree murder.

Williams argued in his appeal there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was not acting in self-defense when he shot Hawkins. He also appealed his sentence as constitutionally excessive.

Williams was just 16 years old when he was arrested in October 2023 in Hawkins’ death. Hawkins caught at least two armed people, including Williams, trying to break into his car. He caught up with Williams in the middle of the street and escorted him into his home, where Williams took Hawkins’ gun and shot him four times.

Williams ran as Hawkins followed screaming in pain. Williams ran away and did not report the shooting. Investigators tracked him down from a fingerprint left on a burglarized car and his ankle bracelet.

Two of the three judges on the Second Circuit Court of Appeal – Jeff Robinson and Danny Ellender -- agreed with Bossier District Judge Parker Self Jr. who determined Williams’ testimony at trial lacked credibility; the events he described – being injured and strangled by Hawkins prior to the shooting – could not have happened.

“We find the state met its burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Williams did not act in self-defense,” wrote Ellender in the ruling, adding the state also proved that Williams committed the crime of manslaughter.

However, Williams must be sentenced again because the trial court failed to wait the required 24 hours following its denial of Williams’ motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal.

Judge Marcus Hunter dissented from the majority, saying he didn’t believe the state met its burden of proving the homicide was not committed in self-defense. He said at no time was Williams the aggressor.

He also believes the sentence was excessive, adding Williams received a near-maximum sentence without consideration that those sentences are reserved for the worst offenders who commit the worse crimes.

“While I understand the seriousness of the offense and how manslaughter can be considered one of the ‘worst offenses,’ there is nothing in this record to indicate this defendant, who was 16 years old, is the ideal candidate tailored for such a terminal classification,” Hunter wrote.