A Sanford man is accused of killing a 6-year-old girl he was babysitting back in March. That man originally told police the girl shot herself.

Erik Williams is accused of shooting A'Letha Burke

Investigators say the 6-year-old was not physically capable of shooting herself

Erik Williams maintains his innocence

Erik Williams faced a judge Wednesday afternoon, now charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child. His mother came to his defense when asked if her son did what police are saying he did.

“No he didn’t, and the truth will set him free,” said Roselyn Williams, Williams’ mother.

But Sanford Police say new evidence in the case shows little A’Letha Burke could not have physically shot herself.

When investigators questioned her uncle about the deadly shooting in early March, Williams told them his 6-year-old niece grabbed his gun underneath a couch. But Sanford Police say a medical examiner’s report now concludes A’Letha was shot by someone else.

Investigators say Williams was the only adult at the home when the shooting happened.

“From the entry of the wound, and the type of weapon and the safety mechanisms on the handgun, that it was physically impossible for her to have fired that weapon,” said Sanford Police spokesperson Bianca Gillett.

Williams was babysitting the little girl at the time at his home in Sanford. He was originally charged with child neglect and unsafe storage of a firearm. At his first appearance Wednesday, a judge granted him a $15,000 bond. If he bonds out, he can’t have any weapons – including guns.

A’Letha Burke’s shooting death is one of two shootings involving children in Sanford earlier this year that prompted Sanford Police to push gun safety.

“A young girl lost her life because a firearm wasn’t secured properly, it wasn’t handled properly and the result was fatal. And so all of our efforts, we’ll continue those efforts and make strides to continue to educate the community,” said Gillett.

A’Letha’s friends and family continue to remember her online and in a memorial that now sits in front of Erik Williams’ home.

Williams’ mother is standing by her son.

“He’s innocent. I know my son is innocent,” said Williams.

Erik Williams is due back in court at the end of May.



Erik Williams is now accused of killing A'Letha Burke.