THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
Josette Williams
#1122305
Full Name: Josette Amanda Williams
DOB: August 15, 1978
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Current Status: Iowa Correctional Institution for Women
Date of Crime: August 23, 2001
Tentative Discharge Date: Life
Victim: Tam Minh Vu
DOB: August 15, 1978
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Current Status: Iowa Correctional Institution for Women
Date of Crime: August 23, 2001
Tentative Discharge Date: Life
Victim: Tam Minh Vu
During the early afternoon of August 23, 2001, Josette Amanda Williams shot and killed Tam Minh Vu in Des Moines. The shooting occurred while Josette and Porsha Allen were stealing Tam’s car. After Josette shot Tam, she and Porsha drove Tam’s car, a 1993 green Honda Accord, to the home of Josette’s sister, Johnysa. Shortly after they arrived, Josette’s removed the license plates and identifying papers from Tam’s car.
Josette and Porsha left Johnysa’s residence approximately ten to twenty minutes after they arrived. They took the gun used in the shooting with them and drove Tam’s car to Merle Hay Mall where they shoplifted some clothing and shoes from two stores. As they were leaving the mall, Porsha asked Josette if she felt bad that she shot Tam. Josette laughed.
Josette and Porsha then drove to the Drake Liquor Store where Josette bought a cigar with change found in Tam’s car. At the liquor store, Josette and Porsha ran into La Chay McGruder. They invited him to join them. The three of them then drove to the Central City Liquor Store to get some cigarettes. While they were in the liquor store, a Des Moines police officer spotted Tam’s car. Josette, Porsha and La Chay left the liquor store and drove away in Tam’s Honda. Josette noticed that a police car was following them. Realizing she had been spotted, Josette sped away. Following a short pursuit, Josette slammed on the brakes and she and Porsha ran from the car. Police apprehended both of them after a short foot chase and transported the pair to the police station.
At the police station, Detective David Ness asked Josette for her name and address. Josette immediately began to cry and said she would take officers to the gun. After Josette waived her constitutional rights, she led Detective Ness to the area through which she had run while fleeing from police. She then showed him the gun used in the shooting, which was hidden behind a piece of sheet-rock in a machine shop. When they returned to the station, Ness interviewed Josette. She told the detective three different stories.
Initially, Josette claimed she and Porsha met La Chay at the Drake Liquor Store. She said La Chay was driving a green Honda Accord and that he asked her to drive it. Josette said she agreed and then drove to the Central City Liquor Store. According to Josette, while they were on their way to the liquor store, La Chay showed her a gun that he had in the glove department. She also told Ness she noticed some clothing in the backseat that appeared to be new. When Josette asked La Chay about the clothing, he reportedly told her his girlfriend stole clothes and then sold them at half price. When they arrived at the liquor store, Josette claimed La Chay noticed the police and then told her to drive away. According to Josette, La Chay told her where to drive and when to stop and run. She claimed she knew nothing about the shooting of an Asian man.
After officers interviewed Porsha and La Chay, Ness confronted Josette with what he believed were inconsistencies in her initial statement. Josette then gave a second statement where she told Ness that she and Porsha had been walking around looking for a ride to Merle Hay Mall. Josette said she and Porsha approached Tam at Kum & Go and persuaded him to give them a lift. After Tam took them to where they told him to go. Josette stated she produced a screwdriver and ordered Tam to get out of the car. She claimed she and Porsha then drove away. Josette made no mention of a gun. She said that she and Porsha drove to Merle Hay Mall in Tam’s car where they stole some items from two stores.
After Ness reminded Josette she had already led police to a gun, she gave a third version of events. Josette admitted she had used a gun to steal Tam’s car from him; however, she claimed the shooting was an accident. She said that after Tam had exited the vehicle, she slid across the front seat to sit behind the wheel and said the gun went off accidentally when she was trying to manipulate the steering wheel or gearshift. She also contended she did not point the gun at Tam or intend to kill him. She admitted that she and Porsha went to Johnysa’s house after taking the car and then drove to the mall where they stole some items.
Josette was charged with murder in the first degree. At her trial, she defended on the theory that the shooting was accidental. The jury was not persuaded by Josette’s defense and returned a guilty verdict.
Josette and Porsha left Johnysa’s residence approximately ten to twenty minutes after they arrived. They took the gun used in the shooting with them and drove Tam’s car to Merle Hay Mall where they shoplifted some clothing and shoes from two stores. As they were leaving the mall, Porsha asked Josette if she felt bad that she shot Tam. Josette laughed.
Josette and Porsha then drove to the Drake Liquor Store where Josette bought a cigar with change found in Tam’s car. At the liquor store, Josette and Porsha ran into La Chay McGruder. They invited him to join them. The three of them then drove to the Central City Liquor Store to get some cigarettes. While they were in the liquor store, a Des Moines police officer spotted Tam’s car. Josette, Porsha and La Chay left the liquor store and drove away in Tam’s Honda. Josette noticed that a police car was following them. Realizing she had been spotted, Josette sped away. Following a short pursuit, Josette slammed on the brakes and she and Porsha ran from the car. Police apprehended both of them after a short foot chase and transported the pair to the police station.
At the police station, Detective David Ness asked Josette for her name and address. Josette immediately began to cry and said she would take officers to the gun. After Josette waived her constitutional rights, she led Detective Ness to the area through which she had run while fleeing from police. She then showed him the gun used in the shooting, which was hidden behind a piece of sheet-rock in a machine shop. When they returned to the station, Ness interviewed Josette. She told the detective three different stories.
Initially, Josette claimed she and Porsha met La Chay at the Drake Liquor Store. She said La Chay was driving a green Honda Accord and that he asked her to drive it. Josette said she agreed and then drove to the Central City Liquor Store. According to Josette, while they were on their way to the liquor store, La Chay showed her a gun that he had in the glove department. She also told Ness she noticed some clothing in the backseat that appeared to be new. When Josette asked La Chay about the clothing, he reportedly told her his girlfriend stole clothes and then sold them at half price. When they arrived at the liquor store, Josette claimed La Chay noticed the police and then told her to drive away. According to Josette, La Chay told her where to drive and when to stop and run. She claimed she knew nothing about the shooting of an Asian man.
After officers interviewed Porsha and La Chay, Ness confronted Josette with what he believed were inconsistencies in her initial statement. Josette then gave a second statement where she told Ness that she and Porsha had been walking around looking for a ride to Merle Hay Mall. Josette said she and Porsha approached Tam at Kum & Go and persuaded him to give them a lift. After Tam took them to where they told him to go. Josette stated she produced a screwdriver and ordered Tam to get out of the car. She claimed she and Porsha then drove away. Josette made no mention of a gun. She said that she and Porsha drove to Merle Hay Mall in Tam’s car where they stole some items from two stores.
After Ness reminded Josette she had already led police to a gun, she gave a third version of events. Josette admitted she had used a gun to steal Tam’s car from him; however, she claimed the shooting was an accident. She said that after Tam had exited the vehicle, she slid across the front seat to sit behind the wheel and said the gun went off accidentally when she was trying to manipulate the steering wheel or gearshift. She also contended she did not point the gun at Tam or intend to kill him. She admitted that she and Porsha went to Johnysa’s house after taking the car and then drove to the mall where they stole some items.
Josette was charged with murder in the first degree. At her trial, she defended on the theory that the shooting was accidental. The jury was not persuaded by Josette’s defense and returned a guilty verdict.
Source: Justia US Law