21-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in killing and robbery of Harbor Town woman

Memphis police have charged a man in the killing and robbery of 56-year-old Susan Grissom in Harbor Town, the department announced Saturday.

Kurtrell Williams was arrested and charged with first degree murder, first degree murder in perpetration of a robbery, first degree murder in perpetration of burglary, aggravated robbery, and especially aggravated burglary. 

Shelby County Jail records list Williams as 21 years old. No bond has been set. 

Grissom was found dead Tuesday at her home in the 900 block of Island Drive. Police responded to a wounding call at 6:47 p.m. and located Grissom dead on the kitchen floor with multiple gunshot wounds.

"The home was burglarized and the victim was also robbed," MPD posted on Facebook. "Officers were able to obtain video that showed the suspect attempting to use the victim’s stolen card."

According to an affidavit, police identified Williams as a suspect on Friday and knocked on the door of his residence. Williams "locked the door on investigators and began barricading furniture against the front door," the document said. After about an hour, Williams surrendered to police.

According to the affidavit, officers recovered the clothing that "he would later admit to wearing when he murdered the victim."

Police said they identified Williams after issuing a media release Friday with a video and photo of the suspect and CrimeStoppers received tips. Officers located him in the 3800 block of Brighton where they took him into custody. 

In May, Williams was charged with aggravated assault after a woman said she and her boyfriend, Williams, got in an argument over her car keys.

"When the victim refused to let defendant Williams take her vehicle he began to strangle the victim," according to a court affidavit. "The defendant threatened to put the victim to sleep."

He fled, according to the affidavit, after forcing her down onto a sofa. 

Officers saw redness and bruising on her neck, the affidavit says. 

The case was dismissed for lack of prosecution, which can happen when a necessary witness does not come to court. 

Court records also show Williams' previous history of burglary of a building, burglary of a motor vehicle, theft and vandalism.

In December 2015, Williams was charged after a man reported his Chevy Equinox stolen from the 1900 block of Cowden. Williams was pulled over and officers found the vehicle to be stolen. An affidavit says Williams gave a statement that he knew it was stolen when he got it. Also in 2015, Williams was charged after a man reported his Acura stolen from the 700 block of South Bellevue. After the car was found, Williams' fingerprints were located on the vehicle, according to an affidavit. 

In August 2015, officers responded to a prowler at Hamilton High School where officers observed Williams and a co-defendant breaking into a locked desk, according to court records.

"Multiple rooms were entered and six Dell computers were unplugged and stashed," an affidavit said. "All items were returned to (the school security officer)." Williams was charged.

In June 2015, Williams was charged after officers responded to a vehicle prowler at Gayoso near Fourth Street. An officer saw Williams enter a man's Chevy Monte Carlo through the passenger side window after prying the window down, according to an affidavit.  

Williams is scheduled for his arraignment Monday in Grissom's death.

Reach Jennifer Pignolet at jennifer.pignolet@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @JenPignolet. Reach Katie Fretland at katherine.fretland@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @katiefretland.