WALTHAM — A 31-year-old Waltham woman has been arraigned on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the 2024 shooting death of her girlfriend, authorities announced Wednesday.
Melanie Williams was ordered held without bail by Middlesex Superior Court Judge Lynn Rooney in the killing of 24-year-old Zharia Wilcox.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2024, Waltham Police responded to a parking lot adjacent to an apartment building on Second Avenue.
Officers located Wilcox on the ground suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
She was pronounced dead on scene.
The investigation revealed that Wilcox was dating Williams and had been staying at her apartment in Waltham at the time of the shooting.
On Aug. 2, Wilcox and Williams were fighting, as Wilcox had been making disparaging remarks about Williams online, according to authorities.
Williams allegedly came to the apartment with her two close friends and co-defendants, Kaire Holman and Curtessa Franklin.
The three defendants are alleged to have beaten Wilcox at the apartment.
Shortly after, Williams, Holman and Franklin allegedly left the building with the victim.
As they walked out to the street, the defendants allegedly grabbed and struck Wilcox before directing her to an area of the parking lot adjacent to the building.
Moments later, witnesses reported hearing popping noises consistent with gunshots.
Williams was allegedly observed a short time later outside a nearby store with blood on her pants.
At the scene, police located false eyelashes and fingernails on the ground, possibly indicative of a struggle, and .380 ammunition.
Evidence indicates that Holman had a .380 firearm registered to her and .380 ammunition was located in both Holman’s vehicle and apartment.
Two days after the shooting, Holman allegedly exchanged text messages with somebody who indicated that Williams had used Holman’s firearm in the shooting.
Holman and Franklin are also charged with first-degree murder.
The case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Waltham Police Department.
