Inset (left): Markeisha Burns-Cross (Saginaw County Sheriff”s Office). Inset (right): Devon L. Williams (Facebook). Background: The Saginaw County Governmental Center in Saginaw, Mich. (Google Maps).
An Indiana woman, Markeisha Burns-Cross, has been sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison for her involvement in the tragic killing of her former partner. The 27-year-old received a sentence ranging from 10 to 30 years after entering a no contest plea to second-degree murder back in April.
The case centers around the fatal shooting of Devon L. Williams, a 33-year-old father of five, at his Michigan residence on March 29, 2023. Prosecutors accused Burns-Cross of driving her then-boyfriend, Zakeem Jones, aged 26, to confront and fatally shoot Williams, who was also the father of her child. The incident was reportedly sparked by a heated argument between Burns-Cross and Jones, following an evening of drinking, about Jones’ interactions with other women.
During Jones’ murder trial, Burns-Cross testified, revealing a story that ended in tragedy. She explained that after quarrelling with Jones, she decided to meet with Williams. However, Jones discovered their text exchanges, which fueled his anger, prompting him to force Burns-Cross to arrange a meeting with Williams in Michigan, with Jones insisting on accompanying her.
Upon reaching Williams’ duplex in Buena Vista Township, Michigan, Jones, armed with a 9 mm handgun, pressured Burns-Cross to coax Williams outside. When she could not accomplish this, Jones pursued her into the house, leading to the fatal encounter.
When the couple arrived at Williams’ duplex in Buena Vista Township, Michigan, Jones wielded a 9 mm handgun as they approached the door. He demanded that Burns-Cross lure Williams outside. When that did not happen, Jones followed Burns-Cross in after she entered the home.
Williams, who was with several children in the home, was sitting at a table when the couple came inside. Upon seeing Jones in his home, Williams tried to escape, but the front door was locked. Jones then fired several shots at Williams, who collapsed to the floor and died.
“Devon Williams was unarmed in his own home and had no idea what was coming,” the prosecutor said. “He lost a battle he didn’t know he was fighting … in a cold-blooded, premeditated ambush.”
Prosecutors said the killing was fueled by jealousy, arguing Jones sought to “obliterate the competition” after discovering the messages between his fiancee and her former partner.
Burns-Cross and Jones then fled back to Indiana.
Jones was at large until September 2024, when he was extradited to Michigan after being released from prison in Illinois. He was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and multiple firearm-related felonies and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Burns-Cross was arrested in July 2023 and charged with first-degree murder and felony weapons charges, which were dropped when she pleaded no contest to second-degree murder.