The family of a homicide victim who was fatally shot in Oakland early Thursday evening says the man was working to change his life and improve the city by cleaning up homeless encampments.
Family members identified the victim as 47-year-old Billy Williams. He had started working for Ken Houston, executive director for the Beautification Council nonprofit, roughly two months ago.
“He was responsible, he was on time, and he said he just needed a chance that he couldn’t get anywhere else. People would turn him down because of his record,” said Houston.
Houston said Williams wanted to turn his life around after spending about 10 years in prison. He hired him over the summer to clean up homeless encampments and the streets in Oakland and in Alameda County. The Beautification Council is funded by Oakland, Alameda County, and the state.
In a recently filmed video, Williams said, “I was down and out, down on my luck. I didn’t have no funds, no job, no employment. And I was in the streets hustling. And I encountered [Ken Houston]. He put me in a position to where I am now. I’ve got a job, nice clothes.”