Arrest Made in Fatal Shooting of Dayton Teen Alfred Hale, a High School Senior with a Promising Future
An arrest has been made in the heartbreaking shooting death of 18-year-old Alfred Hale, a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio.
Dayton police confirmed Monday that a 23-year-old man was taken into custody following a thorough investigation that relied on advanced technology to track leads. Online jail records identify the suspect as Julius Maurice Williamson Jr., who was arrested on the morning of Saturday, April 6. He is currently being held on suspicion of murder and for a parole violation. Formal charges have yet to be announced.
The fatal shooting occurred early Thursday morning, April 4. Officers and medics were dispatched to 27 S. Jefferson Street around 7:23 a.m., where they found Hale suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts, the teen died at the scene.
The tragic loss has deeply shaken the Dayton community.
“This was a senseless event,” said Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims. “Incidents like this are why we’re committed to engaging the community in building a peaceful city. We have zero tolerance for violence — in our neighborhoods, downtown, and throughout Dayton.”
Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence called Hale’s death a profound loss for the entire district.
“Alfred Hale was a valued member of the Dunbar family and the broader Dayton Public Schools community. He will be greatly missed,” Lawrence said. A crisis response team was sent to the high school on Friday to support grieving students, and will remain available in the coming days. He encouraged any students needing help after hours to call the Montgomery County 24/7 Crisis Support Line at 833-580-2255.
Dr. Lawrence also shared plans to visit Hale’s family personally and reiterated the school district’s dedication to working alongside the city and local organizations to confront youth violence at its root.
The investigation remains ongoing as the community mourns a young life lost too soon.