WILMINGTON — Police have made an arrest in the murder case of Aljhean Williams, a 14-year-old boy who was killed in January of 2016.
On Wednesday evening, police arrested Cedric Alden Burnett, 23, for first-degree murder.
“On the night of January 3, [2016] around 6:25 p.m., Wilmington police responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1100 block of Emory Street. Upon arrival, they found Williams lying on his back in the road, unresponsive, and began CPR. EMS arrived on scene and examined the victim, at which time he was declared deceased. Williams had been walking down the street with others when shots rang out from a vehicle and he was struck. Details were limited at the time,” according to the Wilmington Police Department. “Last night’s arrest came after WPD received evidence linking Burnett to the death of Williams.”
On Thursday, police, along with District Attorney Ben David and Williams’s mother, Portia Williams, spoke during a press conference to announce the arrest.
“I would like to thank god for getting me through this moment because without him I don’t think I’d be able to do it. It’s been a long four years, a long four years … My son was 14 years old when he was gunned down, the sky was the limit for him and I am so thankful that they apprehended someone,” Williams said.
David said he was unable to release more information relating to the investigation and how Burnett was linked to the murder stating that the case ‘needs to be tried in court — not the press.’
Burnett is being held without bond at the New Hanover County Detention Center, David said.
When asked if he could address any sort of reason or motive to the killing, David again said he could not comment on the ongoing case, but also clarified that motive is not something a prosecutor has to prove in North Carolina.
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