28-Year-Old William Winters Identified as Victim in Deadly Shooting Outside El Paso County Courthouse

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The victim of a fatal shooting outside the El Paso County courthouse last Thursday has been identified as 28-year-old William Winters, according to court documents.

Suspect, 29-year-old Shaquille Brown, allegedly shot Winters as he was attempting to enter the courthouse with a 1-year-old baby in a carrier. Two other individuals sustained minor injuries at the scene. The Colorado Springs Police Department confirmed that no other serious injuries were reported.

Brown was immediately taken into custody by El Paso County deputies following the shooting. During subsequent interviews with law enforcement, Brown claimed he feared for his life and shot Winters in self-defense. He alleged that Winters had assaulted him at a bar and also threatened him on social media. However, when asked to provide evidence of these claims, Brown stated that he had lost his phone.

Police also discovered that Brown, who had previous offenses, was in possession of a gun, which he was prohibited from having. Brown admitted to obtaining the firearm from an acquaintance he referred to as “from the streets.” The arrest affidavit revealed that Brown shot Winters six times, twice in the head and four times in the chest.

Brown is currently being held at the El Paso County Jail, facing charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and weapon possession by a previous offender. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, November 27.

According to the Colorado Springs police, this incident marks the 29th homicide in the city in 2023. Comparatively, at the same time last year, 42 homicides had been investigated.

Anyone with information pertaining to the case is urged to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000. Those wishing to remain anonymous can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 719-634-7867.