Ronald A. Williams II
Encyclopedia
Ronald Austin Williams II (June 8, 1969 - March 4, 1995) was a New Orleans Police Officer
who was mortally wounded along with two employees of a family-run Vietnamese restaurant during an armed robbery attempt on March 4, 1995. The shooters were a fellow New Orleans police officer, Antoinette Frank
and her accomplice, Rogers LaCaze.
when fellow officer, 25-year-old Antoinette Frank
, and 18-year-old Rogers LaCaze entered the closed restaurant in the early hours of March 4, 1995. The Kim Anh restaurant, was owned and operated by the Vu family. Four siblings were working that night: Ha, Chau, Quoc and Cuong. Twenty-five-year-old Williams was shot and killed immediately. Twenty-five-year-old Ha and her 17-year-old brother, Cuong, were shot and killed when they could not reveal where sister, Chau, hid the day's receipts. Chau, Quoc, and another employee witnessed the crime while hiding in a large walk-in cooler in the restaurant. Frank and LaCaze were charged with first-degree murder, subsequently found guilty and sentenced to death.
in 1987. After high school, Williams married Mary A. Buras, his high school sweetheart, whose family lived across the street from the Williams' home. Ronnie and Mary's first son, Christopher, was born 1989. Williams joined the New Orleans Police Department
in 1992 and began working night detail at the Kim Anh restaurant to supplement his policeman's salary. The restaurant was located on Bullard Boulevard in New Orleans East not far from the Williams' and Buras' family homes. Ronnie and Mary had a second son, Patrick on February 1995, a week prior to the murders. Officer Williams was interred in Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery on March 7, 1995. His name was inscribed on the Memorial Wall at The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
in Washington D.C. during National Police Week the following year.
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
who was mortally wounded along with two employees of a family-run Vietnamese restaurant during an armed robbery attempt on March 4, 1995. The shooters were a fellow New Orleans police officer, Antoinette Frank
Antoinette Frank
Antoinette Frank is a former New Orleans police officer who was convicted of one of the most notorious crimes in recent New Orleans history: the robbery of a restaurant where she worked as a security guard, and the murders of three people, including her partner on the police force, who was also a...
and her accomplice, Rogers LaCaze.
Death
Officer Williams was in uniform while working night detail at the Kim Anh restaurant in New Orleans EastEastern New Orleans
Eastern New Orleans is a large section of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Developed extensively from the 1960s onwards, it was originally marketed as "suburban-style living within the city limits", and has much in common with the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans...
when fellow officer, 25-year-old Antoinette Frank
Antoinette Frank
Antoinette Frank is a former New Orleans police officer who was convicted of one of the most notorious crimes in recent New Orleans history: the robbery of a restaurant where she worked as a security guard, and the murders of three people, including her partner on the police force, who was also a...
, and 18-year-old Rogers LaCaze entered the closed restaurant in the early hours of March 4, 1995. The Kim Anh restaurant, was owned and operated by the Vu family. Four siblings were working that night: Ha, Chau, Quoc and Cuong. Twenty-five-year-old Williams was shot and killed immediately. Twenty-five-year-old Ha and her 17-year-old brother, Cuong, were shot and killed when they could not reveal where sister, Chau, hid the day's receipts. Chau, Quoc, and another employee witnessed the crime while hiding in a large walk-in cooler in the restaurant. Frank and LaCaze were charged with first-degree murder, subsequently found guilty and sentenced to death.
Family
Ronald A. Williams II was raised in New Orleans and graduated from Brother Martin High SchoolBrother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School is an all-male, Catholic, university preparatory school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1869 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, establishing the school as St. Aloysius College...
in 1987. After high school, Williams married Mary A. Buras, his high school sweetheart, whose family lived across the street from the Williams' home. Ronnie and Mary's first son, Christopher, was born 1989. Williams joined the New Orleans Police Department
New Orleans Police Department
The New Orleans Police Department has primary responsibility for law enforcement in New Orleans, Louisiana. The department's jurisdiction covers all of Orleans Parish, while the city is divided into eight police districts....
in 1992 and began working night detail at the Kim Anh restaurant to supplement his policeman's salary. The restaurant was located on Bullard Boulevard in New Orleans East not far from the Williams' and Buras' family homes. Ronnie and Mary had a second son, Patrick on February 1995, a week prior to the murders. Officer Williams was interred in Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery on March 7, 1995. His name was inscribed on the Memorial Wall at The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., at Judiciary Square, honors the nearly 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout history. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was established by former U.S...
in Washington D.C. during National Police Week the following year.