A 27-year-old man in Florida is accused of killing his uncle over the weekend, shooting him after an argument over a broken television turned physical.
O’Neal Robert Matthew Thompson was arrested on Saturday and charged with one count of murder — dangerous and depraved without premeditation — in the killing of Thaddeus Williamson, according to court documents.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on July 5, 2025, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the 200 block of Lakewood Road for a “shots-fired disturbance.” The caller identified herself as Thompson’s grandmother, claiming that he had just shot her son inside the house and fled the scene. She gave the emergency dispatcher a description of Thompson and what he was wearing.
Authorities quickly located Thompson and arrested him a few blocks away, according to police.
“During the detention, he made the spontaneous statement that he shot his uncle (Thaddeus Williamson) in self-defense because Thaddeus Williamson was attacking him,” according to the indictment. “O’Neal Thompson was searched, and a Taurus G2c 9mm was located on his person.”
Medics arrived at the residence and found Williamson, who was bleeding and appeared to have several gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services took him to a local hospital for treatment, but he died from his injuries.
In a post-Miranda interview with detectives, Thompson allegedly claimed that he killed his uncle in self-defense. He claimed that his uncle was giving him a television, but the two got into an argument because the television was not working, according to police.
Thompson stated that during the argument, his uncle “became physical” and “started fighting him,” so he went outside and called his mother to inform her of the situation.
Thompson reported that his uncle was yelling at him through the closed front door. When he returned, he claimed Williamson became “aggressive” towards him and “postured as if he were about to fight.”
“Thompson stated that he tried to get Thaddeus Williamson to stop being aggressive with him because he did not want to fight,” according to the paperwork. “He stated that he then brandished his firearm, which was concealed along his front waistline, and cocked it.
He explained that he did this to get Thaddeus Williamson to stop. He then stated that Thaddeus Williamson asked him, ‘What are you going to do, shoot me?’ He claimed that Thaddeus Williamson continued to be aggressive toward him even after he displayed his firearm.”
Thompson stated that his uncle never attempted to take the gun from him, but “felt that his life was in danger, so he decided to shoot.” According to police, he could not recall how many times he fired.
When questioned by police about why he believed his life was in danger, Thompson allegedly stated that he did not know if his uncle was armed or what the other man might do.
However, Thompson’s grandmother told police that Thompson arrived at the house “very angry” and “started an argument” with his uncle. She stated that the confrontation became physical, and she separated them before turning around and beginning to walk away.
“Very shortly after she turned around, she heard several gunshots,” the affidavit states. “She immediately turned back around and saw O’Neal Thompson with a firearm in his hands and Thaddeus Williamson on the floor.”
Thompson was booked into the Escambia County Jail and is currently being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for his arraignment on July 25, 2025, according to records.
