The man accused of shooting a Webbers Falls police officer during a traffic stop has now admitted to it in federal court. Billy Wayne Williams pleaded guilty Thursday to a slate of serious federal charges after a months-long investigation and a multi-state manhunt that ended with his arrest in New Mexico. He remains in federal custody while prosecutors gear up for sentencing.
Guilty Plea And Federal Counts
In court, Williams admitted to four federal counts tied to the stop: assault with intent to commit murder in Indian country, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian country, assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian country, and using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Taken together, those charges could stack up to decades in prison if the judge follows the guideline calculations at sentencing. The plea was entered this week in federal court, according to FOX23.
Traffic Stop And Officer Injured
Investigators say everything started on March 16, 2025, when a Webbers Falls officer pulled over a white SUV. During that routine stop, gunfire erupted and the officer was hit. The officer, identified locally as Reed, was rushed to a hospital, treated, and later released to recover at home, according to town officials and law enforcement sources. Webbers Falls Police Chief Mike James shared an update on Reed’s condition, as reported by KRMG.
Manhunt And Arrest In New Mexico
Once the suspect’s vehicle description went out, authorities did not treat this as a local problem. A Blue Alert and BOLO triggered a multi-agency search across state lines. In New Mexico, the Grants Police Department used Flock license-plate reader cameras to flag a white Nissan Altima tied to Williams. Officers tracked the car to a Walmart parking lot, where they heard a single gunshot. Inside, they found Williams with what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, then moved into federal custody. The arrest and coordinated search effort, which also involved the FBI and U.S. Marshals, were detailed by KJRH.
Court Status And Next Steps
For now, Williams will stay in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service while the case moves into the sentencing phase. A federal judge will set a sentencing date after a presentence investigation is completed. At that hearing, prosecutors are expected to lay out recommended prison terms based on the assault and firearms counts, which together carry the potential for a lengthy federal sentence. Sentencing is still pending, according to FOX23.
Legal Notes
Because the alleged shooting happened in Indian country, prosecutors brought the assault charges under the Major Crimes Act, codified at 18 U.S.C. §1153, which allows federal courts to handle certain violent offenses on tribal lands. The firearms count rests on 18 U.S.C. §924(c), a statute that carries mandatory minimum prison terms that must run consecutively to any other sentence. Those minimums are five years if a firearm is carried, seven years if it is brandished, and 10 years if it is discharged, according to Cornell Law School and Cornell Law School.
