A Virginia man has been convicted of murdering his childhood friend after prosecutors said a dispute over a television ended with the victim being shot eight times and left to die on his living room floor.
Steven Edward Williams Jr., 25, was found guilty of second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of murder in the July 24, 2024, killing of 24-year-old Norman Hollowell Jr. in Norfolk.
According to prosecutors, Williams went to Hollowell’s apartment on Pretty Lake Avenue while armed with a gun and waited outside.
The dispute began over a television that had belonged to Williams’ brother, who previously lived with Hollowell.
The brother left the TV behind when he moved out and said he planned to come back for it, but he never did. Hollowell eventually sold it.
On the day of the shooting, Williams learned the television was gone and called Hollowell several times.
Hollowell was babysitting his young nephew while making food deliveries and eventually answered one of the calls, telling Williams to meet him at his apartment.
Before going inside, Hollowell locked his nephew in his car and sent his mother a text saying, “I love you.”
Prosecutors said Hollowell then walked into the apartment where Williams was waiting.
Williams later testified that he did not know the TV had been sold before the confrontation, but prosecutors presented evidence they said showed otherwise, including a Facebook post from Hollowell that Williams had seen.
Hollowell reportedly offered Williams another television, but the situation escalated when Hollowell saw two other men approaching the apartment.
About two minutes later, doorbell camera footage reportedly showed Williams leaving the apartment armed with a gun while the other two men ran out carrying a television.
Police later found Hollowell on the living room floor suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He had been shot eight times.
A medical examiner determined that Hollowell died from blood loss.
Williams claimed he acted in self-defense and told jurors that Hollowell had pointed a gun at his face.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence supporting that claim.
After the shooting, Williams reportedly deactivated his Facebook account and got rid of the gun. The weapon was later recovered.
Jurors deliberated for about three hours before returning guilty verdicts.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi said the jury rejected Williams’ self-defense argument after reviewing the evidence.
“Mr. Williams took the life of someone he had known since childhood,” Fatehi said.
He added that prosecutors will seek a prison sentence that reflects the seriousness of the crime.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18.
