MS Coast man facing new charges in deadly mass shooting at OS restaurant, records show
A Mississippi man accused of killing a teen and injuring others in a mass shooting at The Scratch Kitchen restaurant in Ocean Springs is set for trial in May following his seven-count indictment on murder and other charges.
A Jackson County grand jury indicted Fa’Darius Williams, 24, on one count of murder, four counts of aggravated assault and one count each of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and receiving stolen property.
Alabama authorities arrested Williams in Mobile in the aftermath of the May 5, 2023, mass shooting at a Cinco de Mayo party at a now-defunct restaurant on Government Street in Ocean Springs. After the shooting, a judge later shut down the business for good.
Williams is accused of firing into a crowd of about 200 people at the restaurant and bar, resulting in the death of Moss Point resident Chayse Harmon, 19, and injuries to at least four others.
In addition, a grand jury indicted Williams on a charge of receiving stolen property for possessing a stolen 2020 Dodge Charger the same evening the killing occurred. He is indicted on another felony charge for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon for possessing a gun after a felony conviction.
After the shooting, police said Williams went to a Biloxi hospital for treatment of a hand injury police believe he sustained during the shooting. He was later transferred to a Mobile hospital. Alabama authorities first arrested Williams, but he was subsequently extradited to Mississippi to face the charges here.
Since then, Williams has pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. If convicted of all charges, he faces a prison sentence of life plus more than 100 years.
Ocean Springs police said after his initial arrest that Williams had gang-related ties.
In the aftermath of the killing, the city of Ocean Springs successfully pushed to have the restaurant closed because of ongoing problems with overcrowding and other issues. After a hearing in Chancery Court, Judge Neil Harris ordered the restaurant closed permanently.
City officials testified at the hearing that they had talked to the owner, Brittany Cruso Alexander, multiple times about controlling the crowds at the restaurant and bar. In addition, police said, guns were present, and marijuana was being smoked there the night of the shooting.
The crowds were well beyond capacity the night of the mass shooting.
Before his arrest in the mass shooting, Williams had a prior criminal history dating back to 2018 when Jackson County sheriff’s deputies arrested him on two counts of aggravated assault for injuring two people during an incident at a St. Martin apartment complex.
He had also been on probation in the past after pleading guilty to firearms and drug charges. However, once he completed the terms of those sentences, a judge dismissed the charges from his record as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
