Texas Father Convicted After Killing 4-Month-Old Son by Throwing Him Into Couch During Stress-Fueled Outburst

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — A Tarrant County jury has convicted a Texas father of felony murder after prosecutors proved he killed his 4-month-old son by violently throwing the infant into a couch during a moment of overwhelming stress, leaving the child with catastrophic injuries that proved fatal.

Jury Returns Felony Murder Verdict

Alfred Williams, 21, was found guilty this week on one count of felony murder in connection with the February 2023 death of his son, Azari Williams, court records show. The jury determined Williams did not intend to kill the child but committed the felony offense of injury to a child, which directly caused the infant’s death.

Williams now faces a possible sentence ranging from five years to life in prison, with the same jury set to decide his punishment in the next phase of the trial.

Infant Died From Severe Blunt Force Injuries

The fatal incident occurred at an apartment complex along Southwest Loop 820 in southwest Fort Worth. Azari was later rushed to Cook Children’s Hospital, where he died from a combination of blunt force trauma, according to findings from the medical examiner cited by KDFW.

Doctors determined the baby suffered significant brain bleeding and a fractured spinal column, injuries consistent with violent impact.

Prosecutors Describe Violent Sequence

According to testimony summarized by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Williams was the only adult in the apartment that day with Azari and the child’s 11-year-old half brother.

As Azari began crying and his cries grew louder, investigators said Williams yelled at the baby to stop. He then picked up the infant and squeezed him, fracturing two of the child’s ribs. Prosecutors said Williams then threw Azari into the arm of a couch, causing the baby to bounce and likely strike his head against a wall.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Elliott told jurors during closing arguments that Williams threw the baby “like he was nothing.”

Child’s Brother Heard Crying Suddenly Stop

The victim’s 11-year-old half brother provided a chilling account to investigators. He told police he was in his bedroom when he heard Azari crying, followed by Williams yelling — and then silence, according to court testimony.

At the time of the abuse, authorities confirmed the family had no prior involvement with Child Protective Services.

Defendant Cited Stress and Financial Struggles

Williams later told detectives through tears that he “didn’t want to hurt” his child. He described being overwhelmed by financial pressure, unemployment, and isolation while caring for the infant.

Prosecutors said Williams admitted he was unable to pay his cellphone bill, struggled to find work, and spent long hours alone caring for Azari while the child’s mother worked 12-hour shifts at a hospital.

Testimony revealed that Williams sometimes managed stress by smoking cigars outside or walking to nearby stores — demonstrating that nonviolent coping options were available to him.

Manslaughter Argument Rejected by Jury

Williams was initially arrested on a charge of injury to a child with serious bodily injury, but prosecutors later secured an indictment for felony murder. The defense argued the evidence supported manslaughter, not felony murder.

Jurors were allowed to consider the lesser charge under instructions issued by Everett Young, but ultimately rejected it, finding Williams guilty of felony murder tied to child abuse.

Sentencing Phase Ahead

With the guilty verdict now entered, the trial moves into the punishment phase, where jurors will determine how long Williams will remain behind bars. The conviction carries the possibility of life imprisonment under Texas law.

The case has drawn renewed attention to the dangers of unchecked parental stress and the devastating consequences of violent reactions toward vulnerable children.

If you or someone you know is struggling with parenting stress or needs help, resources are available. Share your thoughts on this case and stay informed with continued national coverage at CabarrusWeekly.com.