Wanted Massachusetts man held without bail after allegedly shooting ex-girlfriend multiple times

A suspect in the shooting of a 43-year-old Milton woman last week has been apprehended and was ordered held in jail without bail today after a pretrial detention hearing in Dedham District Court, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said.

Joell C. Williams, 35, whose last known address was in Dorchester, was placed in custody Friday afternoon on outstanding warrants after police developed information that he was at a residence in Mattapan, District Attorney Morrissey said.

After appearing in Boston Municipal Court in Dorchester on Monday for the outstanding warrants, Williams was transported to Dedham District Court where he was arraigned today on an additional outstanding warrant charging him with multiple assault and firearms charges related to an assault on the woman in Norwood in 2023. He pleaded not guilty, and his case was continued to February 26th.

Williams, who is a former boyfriend of the victim, has been wanted on the warrants since the assault in Norwood.

The victim of last Thursday’s shooting in Milton was listed in serious condition at a Boston hospital where she was taken after being shot multiple times while in her car on Belvoir Road at approximately 7:45 a.m., Milton Police Chief John King said.

Williams faces numerous charges related to the Milton shooting, including armed assault with intent to murder and unlawful possession of a large capacity firearm. He was expected to be arraigned in Quincy District Court at a later date on those offenses.

He was apprehended after an intensive manhunt by Milton Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.

They were assisted by the Boston Police SWAT Team, the Boston Police Fugitive Unit, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, and the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force.

Williams did not come out of the dwelling for several hours but was ultimately arrested without incident.

Police also executed a court-issued search warrant and seized a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number and two magazines and a 9 mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine. The suspect is not licensed to carry firearms.

The weapons will be tested at a State Police crime laboratory.