Shadows in the Parking Lot: A Family’s Final Escape
It began like any ordinary Sunday night in Dunwoody, Georgia, a quiet suburban city just north of Atlanta. But what unfolded in the parking lot of a modest apartment complex that night would leave a mother and daughter dead, a teenage boy hospitalized, and a community shattered.
Crystal Williams was ready to leave. Just 22 years old, she had moved in with her boyfriend, Justin Deion Turner, a few weeks earlier. It didn’t take long before things began to feel off. According to those closest to her, Crystal noticed signs of control, manipulation, and emotional abuse early on. The air had changed. She confided in her mother, Danyel Sims, telling her she wanted out. And Danyel — a mother by instinct and protector by nature — didn’t hesitate. She gathered her youngest son, Malachi, and drove to her daughter’s apartment on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to bring her home.
The plan was simple: pack up, leave quickly, and don’t look back.
But leaving an abuser is the most dangerous part of any abusive relationship. For Crystal and her family, that danger was waiting just beyond the door.
As they loaded into the SUV and began to pull away, Justin reportedly appeared in his vehicle. According to police statements, he used his car to block them in — cornering them before anyone could escape. Then, in one chilling moment, he exited his car and opened fire.
In the span of seconds, bullets tore through the vehicle. Crystal and Danyel were shot multiple times. Danyel reportedly shielded her children with her body, even as she was fatally wounded. Crystal, sitting in the driver’s seat, was struck as she tried to flee. Her brother Malachi was also hit, critically injured. Another teenage passenger in the car survived physically unharmed, but witnessed the horror unfold from the backseat.
Justin fled on foot. The aftermath was chaos — police were called, the parking lot became a crime scene, and two lives were lost in an instant. A daughter who just wanted to go home. A mother who refused to let her child face danger alone. Their final act together was one of courage and love — and it cost them everything.
The Women They Killed
Crystal Williams was just beginning her adult life. At 22, she was described by family as the “spark” in the room — warm, vibrant, and loyal to those she loved. Her decision to move in with her boyfriend had been one of independence, but when it turned toxic, she didn’t stay quiet. Her bravery wasn’t just in leaving, it was in asking for help. Crystal died doing what so many victims of abuse try to do: reclaiming her life.
Her mother, Danyel Sims, was 46 and deeply protective of her children. Friends and relatives said she was the kind of mother who showed up — without question, without fear. When Crystal said she needed help, Danyel drove straight there. No hesitation. She brought her youngest son, believing it would be a quick pickup. Instead, she ended up shielding her children with her body, taking bullets meant for them.
Malachi, just 18 at the time, survived his injuries. But he lost both his sister and mother in one moment. And while his physical wounds have healed, the trauma he witnessed will likely never fade.
When the Escape Turns Deadly
In the days that followed, law enforcement pieced together the events of that night. Turner had reportedly become possessive and aggressive as Crystal prepared to leave him. According to family members, she had already told people she didn’t feel safe — that she wanted to go home. Her decision to act quickly may have saved her younger brother’s life, even as it cost her and her mother their own.
Police announced a manhunt for Turner, who had fled the scene. Within 24 hours, he was apprehended during a foot pursuit in Atlanta. Officers confirmed his arrest the following day and charged him with two counts of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Bond was denied at his first court appearance. He remains in custody, awaiting trial.
Despite early reports and a viral online caption stating that Turner had been charged with “second-degree murder,” court filings indicate otherwise. Georgia law doesn’t commonly use “second-degree murder” for adult homicide cases unless a child’s death due to negligence is involved. In this case, Turner’s charges reflect what would typically be classified as first-degree or malice murder under state law.
Family members, including Crystal’s stepfather, spoke out through tears at the injustice. They shared stories of Crystal’s kindness, of Danyel’s courage, of the simple way their lives had been built around each other. Both were taken in a moment of chaos and cruelty — not because they were in the wrong place, but because they stood up against what was wrong.
What Police Have Confirmed
Authorities publicly confirmed that Justin Deion Turner was arrested on September 7, 2020. According to Dunwoody Police, he was found hiding in Atlanta and was taken into custody after a foot chase. He was booked on two counts of murder, along with additional felony charges.
Turner had no previous domestic violence convictions on record, but court data shows he was previously arrested on unrelated aggravated assault charges earlier that same year. Investigators have not released further information about those charges.
Police described the attack as a domestic-violence-driven homicide. The victims were identified by name, and their familial relationship to the suspect’s ex-girlfriend was confirmed. A minor who witnessed the shooting was reportedly unharmed, but no identifying information about that witness has been released due to age.
Bond was formally denied at Turner’s first court hearing. There have been no trial updates or plea announcements publicly disclosed since.
What Still Has No Answers
- What specific behavior or threats, if any, did Crystal report before the shooting?
- Were there prior calls to law enforcement involving Turner and Crystal before the murder?
- Is Turner pursuing a defense or plea agreement, or has a trial date been set?
- What emotional or psychological support has been made available to Malachi and the surviving family members?
- Why haven’t court documents, such as the indictment or motions, been made public?
- What, if anything, was done by authorities to intervene in the days leading up to the incident?
- Are there any surveillance recordings or bodycam footage from the crime scene or arrest?
- What support systems, if any, were in place or offered to Crystal before the tragedy?
People Tied to the Crime
CRYSTAL WILLIAMS - Victim - 22-year-old woman who was trying to leave a violent relationship; she was ambushed and killed in her car while attempting to go home with her family.
DANYEL SIMS - Victim - 46-year-old mother of Crystal Williams; she died shielding her children from gunfire after driving to help her daughter escape an abusive relationship.
MALACHI WILLIAMS - Surviving Relative - 18-year-old brother of Crystal; shot and critically wounded in the ambush, but survived. His testimony and trauma are central to the case.
JUSTIN DEION TURNER - Accused - 23-year-old ex-boyfriend of Crystal Williams; charged with two counts of murder and remains in custody awaiting trial.
UNNAMED TEEN WITNESS - Witness - Surviving minor in the backseat of the SUV who reportedly witnessed the entire shooting but was physically unharmed.