Patrick Williams II found guilty of gun charge

A Shreveport man whose criminal past presents him from owning of possessing a firearm was found guilty of that crime Friday, May 15, 2026 in Caddo District Court.

The 10-woman, two-man jury in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.'s court deliberated 41 minutes before returning its unanimous guilty-as-charged verdict against Patrick Williams II, 40.

Over the course of the trial, jurors learned that on May 3, 2025, a Shreveport police officer made a traffic stop on a Hyundai Elantra for following too closely to another vehicle and failing to use a turn signal. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed the odor of marijuana and alcohol coming from the car. During a standard search of the vehicle while looking for narcotics, the officer found a Ruger 9mm pistol within arm’s reach of the center console under the media player. Williams, the driver, admitted after he was detailed by officers that he had the firearm for 15 years. Williams has prior convictions of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance as well as a prior felon in possession of a firearm charge, both of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.

When Williams returns to Judge Hathaway's court June 9, 2026, for sentencing, he faces at least five and up to 20 years in prison at hard labor.

Williams was prosecuted by Chase Burgess and Jason Waltman, The was represented by the Caddo Parish Indigent Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 408452.