NC man called to ‘negotiate’ a surrender — then mentioned a little girl inside
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Princess Russell, 41, was fatally shot at her Clayton home March 13.
- Russell’s boyfriend, Johnny Williams, allegedly shot her and her son after an argument.
- Williams then called 911 to ask deputies not to shoot him, according to recordings.
As his girlfriend’s body lay at the bottom of the stairs in their Clayton home, Jerry Williams pleaded with sheriff’s deputies not to shoot him.
The 41-year-old is charged with fatally shooting Princess Russell, 41, and shooting her teenage son in the back March 13, The News & Observer previously reported. Recently released 911 calls and court documents have offered new details on the killing.
The events that morning began with an argument between Russell and Williams, according to a search warrant released Wednesday. Russell’s son told investigators his mother and her boyfriend “got into a disagreement that escalated”; it’s unclear how much time passed between the argument and the shooting.
Deputies arrived at the home after a 911 hang-up call just before 3 a.m., The N&O previously reported.
A deputy knocked on the front door, and “shortly thereafter,” four or five gunshots rang out inside, according to the search warrant.
Russell’s son jumped out of a second-story window moments later, emergency communications records show. As deputies tried to make contact with Williams, a 911 call came in at 3:12 a.m.
“Hi, my name is Jerry Williams from 67 Valleyfield Drive,” he said. “I’m just trying to negotiate my peaceful surrender without getting shot, ya heard? That’s it.”
An operator coaxed Williams toward the door for nearly 10 minutes, reassuring him deputies would not harm him if he obeyed their instructions.
“Please don’t let them shoot me. I mean, I did the crime, I know ... but I’m trying to surrender peacefully,” Williams said.
Minutes into the call, Williams revealed another child was still inside the home.
“I got my 10-year-old little girl, though, in here, and I let her down so bad,” he said. “I feel so terrible. She’s terrified, and I’m trying to not let her lose my life, too, even though I know I’ll never be around her again.”
At one point, the child got on the phone with the operator.
“I just turned 10 on March first,” she said.
Williams warned deputies not to shoot because “my daughter is standing right behind me” as he prepared to exit the home. He was taken into custody about 3:20 a.m., emergency records show.
Investigators seized an unspecified number of guns, a knife, fired cartridge casings, narcotics and a fired projectile from the home, according to the search warrant. Court documents don’t specify what type of firearm Williams allegedly used to shoot Russell.
Domestic violence deaths
Russell’s killing marks the third known domestic violence homicide in the Triangle area in 2026, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website, which tracks such killings. Homicides tied to domestic violence are on the rise in North Carolina, with 2024 marking a “record high” for the state, The N&O previously reported.
Williams remained in the Johnston County jail without bail as of Wednesday afternoon. A GoFundMe to support Russell’s three children has raised over $2,300 of its $6,000 goal.
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 1:12 PM.
