Five Arrested in Shooting that Killed Security Officer, Wounded Two

Five suspects have been taken into custody on suspicion of homicide and attempted murder by San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials nearly one week after an early New Year's Day shooting that killed one and wounded two others. Investigators on Monday arrested the suspects, four of whom are minors: two 17-year-olds from Perris; one 15-year-old from Perris; one 17-year-old from Adelanto; and one 20-year-old from San Jacinto. The district attorney has charged all five suspects with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Gang enhancements were filed on each count, according to sheriff's officials. The 17-year-old from Adelanto, a 17-year-old from Perris and the 15-year-old of Perris are being charged as adults and were in custody at San Bernardino Juvenile Hall at time of press on Jan. 6. One 17-year-old from Perris and the 20-year-old from San Jacinto are booked in the West Valley Detention Center at time of press. The five suspects were arraigned Jan. 6 at 1:15 p.m., according to sheriff's officials. The shooting that killed security guard Richard "Big Will" Williamson, 48, of Riverside, occurred just before 2 a.m. New Year's Day in the parking lot of popular roller rink CalSkate, located on the 22000 block of Commerce Way in Grand Terrace. Williamson died of his injuries at a nearby hospital at approximately 3 a.m. Two other men, ages 22 and 28, were also wounded in the shooting - one suffering a gun wound to the leg and the other suffered a bullet graze to the face. Their names have not been released. Approximately 400 people were in attendance at a glow-in-the-dark all-night skating party, an annual event that CalSkate holds each year and featured a ball drop, when the gunfire broke. Michael Marcoly, a trucker who said he regularly parks nearby, was resting in his truck when he was awoken by gunshots. "I heard the shots and I thought, 'That's awfully close.' I thought maybe someone was just shooting off guns for New Year's Eve," Marcoly said. He jumped into the driver's side of his vehicle to see what was going on, he explained, when he saw the shooter and Williamson, the owner of Big Will's Security Services in Riverside, exchanging fire. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing," Marcoly said. According to Marcoly, Williamson returned fire on the suspect, who was with a friend, after the suspect began shooting at another security guard, who was grazed in the face with a bullet. Moments later, Marcoly felt a bullet hit his truck - it entered near the sleeper cab and went straight through the vehicle, Marcoly said. After an investigation police determined the bullet that went through the truck belonged to Williamson as he returned fire. Marcoly said he later learned the shooting occurred after an argument broke out over a hat one of the suspects had been wearing inside the roller rink. After the hat had been misplaced, one of the suspects became angry and an argument broke out, Marcoly said. That was when one of them retrieved a gun and began firing, according to Marcoly. Marcoly said he hadn't been able to speak with Williamson's family, but he had one thing to say: "As far as I'm concerned, your father is a hero," Marcoly said. "It would have been easy for him to duck behind a door but he continued to shoot at them. Big Will took all the focus of the gunfire on him. That's more courage than I have." Through the holiday weekend dozens gathered at the scene to grieve and honor Williamson's life and memory. Towering over six feet tall, friends and family described Williamson to local media sources as a "teddy bear." CalSkate closed its doors Thursday, New Year's Day, and Friday, Jan. 2. Investigation of the incident is still ongoing by San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials. Those with information regarding the shooting are asked to contact Det. Ryan Smith or Sgt. Jason Radeleff at 909-387-3589. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information at www.wetip.com.