A jury has found two brothers from Georgia guilty in the July 2020 murder of Nurudeen Thomas, a 30-year-old man shot and killed during what prosecutors described as a botched robbery over cocaine in Northwest Washington, DC. Dijon Williams, 27, was a senior wide receiver on Georgetown University's football team at the time of his arrest in September 2020, according to prior reporting.
Federal prosecutors announced the verdict against Dijon Williams and his brother Daivion Williams, 28, both of Georgia, saying the pair were found guilty of their roles in Thomas's killing, according to the justice.gov announcement. As reported by DailyVoice.com, the jury convicted the brothers of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, and attempted robbery. Dijon Williams was reportedly suspended from Georgetown's football team following his arrest, per The Washington Post's earlier reporting.
A Drug Deal That Turned Deadly
According to DailyVoice.com's reporting on the case, Dijon and Daivion Williams drove from Georgia to Washington, DC, intending to steal drugs from Thomas, arranging to meet him under the guise of a legitimate drug deal. The confrontation unfolded on the 4100 block of 14th Street NW, where the fatal shooting of Thomas took place on July 21, 2020, according to DC Witness. Prosecutors argued the brothers attempted to rob Thomas, and he was shot and killed during that confrontation, per DailyVoice.com's account of the case.
DC Witness reported that prosecutors specifically argued the brothers planned to steal, rather than buy, two ounces of cocaine from Thomas. Dijon Williams's defense countered during trial proceedings that the plan was a legitimate purchase, with his attorney telling the outlet, “the move was a buy, not a robbery.” The brothers fled back to Georgia after the killing, according to DailyVoice.com, and were later arrested.
Separate Charges for a Third Man
A grand jury separately indicted a third man, Steven Washington, 23, in connection with Thomas's killing, The Washington Post reported in October 2022. That same reporting described Thomas as a 30-year-old man from Greenbelt, Maryland. The case included pretrial proceedings before reaching the recent jury verdict.
Daily Voice spells the younger brother’s first name “Daivion,” and DC Witness generally does as well, with one “Davion” typo. Both refer to the same defendant, a 28-year-old from Georgia.
Prosecutors Point to a Pattern of Accountability
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the brothers traveled from Georgia to Washington, DC, intending to rob their drug supplier, and that the robbery ended in murder, according to DailyVoice.com. Pirro added that the brothers could not evade justice after fleeing to Georgia following the killing. “[The verdict] demonstrates a commitment to holding violent offenders accountable wherever they run,” Pirro said, per the outlet's reporting.
Dijon Williams and Daivion Williams are scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2027, DailyVoice.com reported. The case stems from the deadly encounter on 14th Street NW, which began, according to prosecutors, as an arranged drug meeting that ended in gunfire.
