Menace to society
Slain-rapper’s pal tied to list of bloody mayhem
A Brooklyn pal of slain rapper KJ Balla took part in several shootings this year — and was the wheelman in the June slaying of a person-of-interest in the rapper’s murder, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
Anthony Williams, 21, isn’t charged in the June 19 drive-by killing of Hassan Brown — but the feds say he drove the car that carried Brown’s killer to the shooting scene.
Numerous video images allegedly capture Williams driving a blue sedan out of East New York’s Lincoln Towers complex on June 19.
Video then shows pulling up to a car on Stanley Ave. near Van Siclen Ave. in East New York. A passenger in Williams’ car opened fire on Brown, who was in the other car, federal prosecutors say.
The blue sedan was found days later burned to a crisp near JFK airport.
It was not clear if Brown was involved in the killing of KJ Balla, or if investigators wanted to speak with him because he knew something about the murder.
Federal officials on Tuesday announced that Williams was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition in connection with an incident on June 17, two days before Brown’s slaying.
In that case, two men were his car shot in the back in broad daylight on Sheffield and Atlantic Aves. in East New York. Both men survived the shooting.
Just weeks earlier, on May 23, Williams took part in another shooting in which he and another man went directly from a memorial gathering for KJ Balla to an East New York bodega where they opened fire on a group of men standing outside, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors declined to confirm whether or not the May 23 shooting was a retaliatory attack to avenge KJ Balla’s killing on May 22, the day before.
KJ Balla — born Kennedy Joseph Noel — and Williams were members of From Nothing, a gang based in Lincoln Towers complex, say the feds.
Williams has a large tattoo on his neck that says “From Nothing” and “4eva KJ,” seemingly a tribute to the slain 23-yearold rapper.
When he was involved in the June 17 broad-daylight shooting, Williams was out on bail on multiple cases in Brooklyn and New Jersey, according to the feds.
“The defendant is an active gang member who committed the charged crime (and several other violent crimes) while on probation and bail,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Siegel in a detention memo.
Williams had been arrested on money laundering and credit card fraud cases in New Jersey in 2018, according to prosecutors. He was released on bail and arrested again in 2019 in New Jersey for check fraud and marijuana possession.
While out on those cases, Williams was arrested in New York after leading police on a high speed chase in a rental car.
In January of this year, Williams allegedly led cops on another high-speed chase through the streets. He was also booked for shoplifting that same month, the feds allege.
Williams went before a judge Tuesday and was ordered held without bail on the weapons possession charges. He could apply for bail at some future date.
Williams’ attorney, Sabrina Sheriff, declined to comment on the case.