Former Miami Football Player Arrested for Murder in Florida Bar Shooting

DELAND, Fla. — Avantae Williams, a 24-year-old former football player for the University of Miami and the University of Maryland, was arrested on May 5, 2025, and charged with second-degree murder following a shooting at McCabe’s Bar early Saturday morning.

According to the DeLand Police Department, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on May 3. Witnesses reported that a fistfight broke out between several men inside the bar when one of the individuals brandished a firearm and opened fire. Keshod Harris, 32, of DeLand, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A bartender, who intervened during the altercation, also received non-life-threatening injuries from gunfire to both hands. Authorities indicated that the suspect fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

Williams, who was a highly touted safety in the 2020 recruiting class, was once considered among the best prospects in college football. He played for the Miami Hurricanes from 2021 to 2022 before transferring to the University of Maryland in 2023. Despite his talent, Williams faced legal issues during his college career, including a previous arrest in 2021 for battery against a pregnant woman. Those charges were eventually dropped.

Stephanie Kirby, a bartender at McCabe’s during the shooting, described the chaotic scene. “There was chaos, you know, everybody was running. When bullets are flying, and you don’t know where they’re gonna land, that’s pretty scary,” she said.

Williams is currently being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail as the investigation remains active. He could face additional charges as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the violent incident.