White Plains Man Charged for Murder
White Plains police have arrested a 25-year-old city resident for the murder earlier this week of Deron Strange.
On Wednesday night Strange, a 35-year-old White Plains resident, had a dispute with the alleged murderer, Brandon Williams, police said. The two had been seen hanging out that day, police maintain. Williams shot Strange in the torso late Wednesday night in White Plains, six minutes before midnight, according to police.
On Friday night, less than 72 hours later, police apprehended Williams in the 8 o’clock hour. The suspect had been hiding out at a hotel on Corporate Drive in Harrison, Commissioner David Chong said. Police had learned Williams was hiding in the hotel, and setup a perimeter outside. In speaking with hotel security and management, police established Williams was inside the hotel. When he tried to sneak out, police apprehended the suspect.
In addition to receiving assistance from the F.B.I.’s violent felony task-force, White Plains police also benefited from receiving cooperation from members of the community when gathering information, the commissioner stressed.
“People in the community won’t tolerate this kind of violence,” Chong said. “I appreciate the community working with us.”
Williams, whose last known address is 159 South Lexington Avenue, was known to White Plains police, as was Strange. Both had criminal records, according to police, but people who knew and loved Strange want people to remember all of his positive qualities.
“Deron was a wonderful father and an amazing husband,” said a local resident who asked to remain anonymous, also noting funeral arrangements have not yet been made. “Deron was always the life of the party. People always loved him. He was a very wise man and always helping people.”
Police did perform CPR on Strange Wednesday night. Strange was still alive when rushed to White Plains Hospital but died in the wee hours Thursday morning, at about 3 a.m.
Chong did note how Williams has already “lawyered up,” but that police have gathered substantial evidence resulting from a search warrant they executed at the man’s home and for the hotel where he was hiding. The evidence does “tie him to the homicide,” Chong said.
Williams has been booked on several serious felony charges: Murder Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, Criminal use of a Firearm First Degree and Reckless Endangerment First Degree. He’s also been charged with Criminal Mischief Second Degree.
“My compliments to the community and to detectives on a great job,” Chong said.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.