Prosecutors: Tierra Williams beat Anthony Morris to death with baseball bat

Michael Lansu — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:11:47 -0600

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Tierra Williams was ordered held on $900,000 bond Monday after prosecutors said she drove her boyfriend to beat a man to death in the Park Manor neighborhood in March.

On March 26, Anthony Morris met Aaron Smith to buy marijuana in the 7000 block of South Vincennes Avenue, but instead Morris decided to steal “a large quantity of marijuana,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Rogers.

Williams is Smith's girlfriend and was present for the alleged drug deal and theft, Rogers said.

After taking the drugs, Morris ran away and called a nearby friend to pick him up, Rogers said.

Williams and Smith followed Morris, and eventually Smith exited the car and began to chase him on foot while Williams continued her pursuit in the car, Rogers said.

Smith caught up with Morris and a group of his acquaintances beat Morris. When Williams arrived, she got out of the car with a baseball bat and hit Morris in the head with it at least twice, Rogers said.

When Morris attempted to crawl away, the group beat him until he laid motionless, Rogers said.

Witnesses said Smith picked up an object over the ground and used it to hit Morris in the head multiple times, Rogers said. The witnesses 911 and Morris was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Aaron Smith / Photo from Chicago Police

Morris, 27, of Jackson, Tenn., died at the hospital April 3 from complications from the head and brain injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Smith, 28, of the 6500 block of South Washtenaw Avenue, was arrested in October and charged with murder, authorites said. Judge James Brown ordered him held on $1 million bond on Oct. 21.

On Nov. 1, police discovered Williams, 29, in a vehicle that matched the description of the one used during the beating. A witness identified her as the person who hit Morris in the head with the bad and she was charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

On Monday, Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Williams, of the 6600 block of South Rockewell Street, held on $900,000 bond.

Williams will be back in court Nov. 10.

Tierra Williams | Homicide Watch Chicago

Prosecutors: Tierra Williams beat Anthony Morris to death with baseball bat