Jury selection is now underway in Flint for the long-awaited trial of three men accused in the 2020 drive-by shooting that killed 3-year-old Messiah Williams.
Prosecutors allege that London Walton, Camron Burnett, and Shamir Banks were involved in the shooting that struck the child inside his family’s home in October 2020. Authorities say the boy was not the intended target.
Because of the complexity of the case, three separate juries will be selected—one for each defendant. The trial is expected to last about a month and will be overseen by Chris Christenson in circuit court.
The case has been delayed multiple times over the past several years. One major setback occurred when an appeals court ruled that statements made by Burnett to the Michigan State Police should be excluded, determining he had clearly requested legal counsel during questioning.
Another postponement came in 2025 when prosecutors sought additional time.
Each of the three defendants now faces numerous felony charges, including first-degree murder and several weapons-related offenses.
A fourth individual, Desean Davis, previously pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and is expected to testify as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
The charges were reissued following a decision by the Michigan Supreme Court, which ruled that a single-judge grand jury does not have the authority to bring criminal charges.
The trial marks a significant step forward in a case that has drawn attention due to the young age of the victim and the lengthy legal delays.