LONOKE, Ark. (KTHV) - The Williams family make no arguments about their son Walter Jones, saying he mixed with the wrong crowd. Regardless, they believe he deserves justice no matter his troubled past.
Jones was shot and killed last September and now the shooter will serve 17 1/2 years and the two other men involved in the fight could walk away with probation.
"These boys are all cousins that's the sad part, family," says Odell Williams, Walter Jones' stepfather.
Williams shutters at the thought of family killing family, but last September his son, Walter Jones was brutally shot by his own relative.
Wednesday Jeremy Walker pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder and will serve 17 1/2 years for the shooting but the other two men involved in the fight Kimo and Courtney McClain will likely be sentenced to probation in October, shocking results for the Williams family.
"He's getting the whole ramp while the other boys that did do it and participated is just, might be getting out in October," says Sharon Williams, Jones' mother.
Odell and Sharon Williams say they were led to believe a jury trial would take place this week and they wanted that for closure.
"Let's go to trial and let 12 people hear, all these evidence from both sides whatever and let them make a decision as to who's guilty and who's innocent. If they come to the conclusion that all these boys are innocent and acquit them so it be," says Odell Williams.
The trial never happened.
"Then turn around and do a plea out with them and the first knowledge we get of it is an hour and a half before it's done? I felt we got no justice, we were betrayed,' says Odell Williams.
Prosecuting attorney Chuck Graham says had the case gone to trial, all three involved in the fight could have walked away free.
"We've tried similar cases here where the victim had a weapon, and that's exactly what happened," says Graham.
Because Jones was carrying a gun it made conviction of the McClain brothers extremely difficult and Graham says witnesses never came through.
"Everybody said they didn't see anything or they would talk to the family and tell them they saw something and then they would go talk to them and they would deny they ever said that," says Graham.
A hurting mother found it hard to believe no witnesses cooperated.
"Put them on the stand, let them get sworn in and put them on the stand, catch them in a lie or whatever, but do it and they didn't do it," says Sharon Williams.
Jones leaves behind five children and the family says they will remind the kids of their dad often. They hope for a brighter future for the next generation.
Official sentencing for the McClain brothers will take place in October of this year.
Twitter: @DustinBWilson1