Friends on Thursday described 18-year-old Colin Williams as friendly and good-natured -- someone they said they'd never expect to open fire on his mother and later turn a gun on himself.

"No one would've expected him to do this," said Sydney Slagle, of Pen Argyl, who met Williams last summer at the Bangor home of friend Kyle Jenkins. "He was the type of person to not tell people if he was sad. He would hold it in."

Jenkins described Williams as a "brother" to him, and said in their three-year friendship Williams had never opened up about any problems. In fact, Jenkins said, Williams was a jovial person who always had a smile on his face and cracked jokes.

"None of us knew, and if we did, we would've helped him," he said. "When I first heard this, I bawled my eyes out just questioning why would he do this and why didn't he talk to me?"

Colonial Regional police said Williams, of the 300 block of Hillview Drive in Lower Nazareth Township, fired a shotgun blast from outside a window as his mother watched television inside just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Carolyn Anne Williams, 49, was wounded in the back of the head but is expected to survive, according to Colonial Regional police.

Colin Williams had returned to the home after the two argued over his suspected drug use, according to a police affidavit. After shooting his mother, Williams drove off.

Authorities say he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found in a car about 2 a.m. Wednesday in Lower Mount Bethel Township.

Colin's friend Michael England, of Martins Creek, said he hadn't talked to Colin since Sunday and had no inkling of trouble until he got a text message that floored him.

"Then, I got a text saying he killed himself and shot his mother," England said.

Interest in law enforcement

Colin Williams was a 2016 graduate of Easton Area High School and also attended the Career Institute of Technology in Forks Township for heating, ventilation and air conditioning studies.

Adrianne Jones, administrative director at CIT, said Williams also graduated from the institute in 2016.

"The CIT staff extends their thoughts to the family members and friends of Colin Williams," Jones said.

Williams previously lived in Palmer Township before moving to Lower Nazareth in recent years with his mother and 8-year-old brother.

Friends said Williams wanted to be involved in emergency response and had an interest in law enforcement. Court records indicate he volunteered with a neighbor at a local fire company.

More recently, he worked at Crayola.

Carolyn Williams texted her son Tuesday afternoon when he didn't show up for work, police said. The two had argued that day about Carolyn Williams allegedly finding marijuana and possibly other drugs, as well as drug paraphernalia, in Colin's laundry, according to police.

Colin Williams stormed out of the house and was later seen by a neighbor near the home, minutes before Carolyn Williams' shooting. His little brother ran to another neighbor's home for help after she was hurt, according to police.

Williams enjoyed music, listened to heavy metal and played guitar. His Facebook wall lists Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana as favorites. Friends say he also was into paranormal activity and ghost-hunting. A favorite hang-out was Sheetz, they said.

'I wish he would've called someone'

Devon Hawksworth, of Pen Argyl, recalled the pair last summer collecting junk to sell for profit. They found three antique dressers and sold them for $80, Hawksworth said.

They then relaxed sharing a pizza and Smirnoff Ice while watching TV, he said.

"When I heard what happened, I was very sad," Hawksworth said. "I wish he would've called someone, but he never did."

Colin Williams didn't have it easy. His mother made headlines in 2010 when she robbed a bank along Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Township while wearing a clown costume. Prosecutors said she had lost $35,000 at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and her attorneys said she suffered from delusions.

A judge in August 2011 sentenced her to two years in state prison after she pleaded guilty to a single count of felony robbery.

Colin Williams had a clean record except for a guilty plea for misdemeanor criminal mischief in November.

His friends said he had a passion for the outdoors. It wasn't uncommon for Williams to go on a hike, go fishing, chat around a campfire or jump into the Delaware River. The profile photo on his Facebook page says "Remembering Colin Williams (Red)," and shows the teen at the top of "The Knob" along the Appalachian Trail in Germansville.

"He loved everything to do with the outdoors," England said, recalling some of the adventures the pair shared. "He was an amazing person with a huge heart. He was one of my best friends and it completely sucks that he's gone."

A condition for Carolyn Williams, who was taken to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, wasn't available Thursday. Colonial Regional police said they continue to investigate the shooting.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.