Georgetown University football player arrested and charged with murder

Juliette Arcodia and David K. Li and Suzanne Ciechalski
Updated ·2 min read

Sheriff's deputies and federal agents arrested a Georgetown University football player in Georgia on a murder charge out of Washington, D.C., authorities said Tuesday.

The man, Dijon Williams, a senior wide receiver for the Hoyas, was picked up Monday afternoon in Lawrenceville, Georgia, by a team of Gwinnett County sheriff's deputies and U.S. Marshals, federal authorities said.

The Marshals Service A warrant for Williams' arrest was received by on Thursday, and agents found him at an address on Herrington Road, where they made the arrest, officials said.

Williams, 21, a Georgia native, attended Miller Grove High School, which is about 25 miles south of Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta.

Williams was arrested in connection with the slaying of Nurudeen Thomas on July 21 near the corner of 14th and Taylor streets NW, Washington police spokesman Sean Hickman said Tuesday.

Thomas, 30, listed homes in nearby Greenbelt, Maryland, and on the block where he was found fatally wounded shortly after 5 a.m., police said. The crime scene is about 6 miles from Georgetown University.

It wasn't immediately clear Tuesday whether Williams had hired or been assigned a defense lawyer while he's in marshals' custody awaiting extradition.

Williams, a wide receiver, has been suspended from the football team.

"Georgetown University became aware of charges against Dijon Williams yesterday evening," university spokeswoman Ruth McBain said in a statement Tuesday. "While we are working to learn more information, we will cooperate fully with any investigation and we stand prepared to offer resources to members of our community who may be affected by this news."

Almost all Georgetown students are taking their classes remotely this semester because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The university's team plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, the second tier of college football. The Hoyas are members of the Patriot League, which postponed fall football because of the virus with hopes of playing in the winter or in spring 2021.