St. Louis Man Accused Of Fatally Shooting Neighbor Who Was Arguing With His Girlfriend

CBS St. Louis

April 18, 2021

A St. Louis man was charged Friday after police said he fatally shot a man who was arguing with his pregnant girlfriend in South City. Police say he was taken into custody Sunday morning.
Craig Williams, 23, was shot in the 4000 block of Hydraulic on March 26. He was arguing with his girlfriend before a neighbor armed with a handgun stepped in and shot him. But Williams’ friends said there was no reason for the neighbor to use deadly force. A video recorded from across the street shows the moments leading up to the shooting. Friends of Williams, Daniel Calmese and Michael Atkins, said Williams was arguing with his girlfriend, Melissa. Her family members were on the scene and Atkins said they were telling others from the neighborhood not to get involved. A video recorded from across the street shows the moments leading up to the shooting of 23-year-old Craig Williams Friday night. Police said Williams then opened the front door of his car, which was parked in the middle of the street, and got a gun. Rathman then positioned himself in front of the car, rested his arm on the hood of a nearby car and aimed his handgun at Williams as he got into the car. As he stood up, Rathman shot him twice. Rathman is facing second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges. In March, News 4 went to the home of person believed to be the shooter, but nobody answered the door. Calmese and Atkins dispute news reports that Williams was choking Melissa and that the neighbor had no choice but to fire shots. Both Calmese and Atkins said Williams was a gun owner but was not a threat when he was shot and killed.

“Even in the video, you can see my friend Craig walking away and you can see the man still following him walking around the car and got in the position like he wanted to…” said Atkins.
Melissa is pregnant with Williams’ child. Their baby boy is expected to be born in the next couple of weeks.