CHESTERFIELD TWP, Mich. (WXYZ) — A 55-year-old man was arraigned this afternoon in the deadly Chesterfield Township attack that left a radio anchor dead and multiple others injured.
The charges include Homicide 1st Degree Premeditated Murder, Homicide Felony Murder, two counts of Assault With Intent to Murder, and three counts of Unlawful Imprisonment.
Arthur Williamson's attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, and the judge denied bond in this case. Williamson's probable cause conference is scheduled for October 5 at 9 a.m.
Police said they were called around noon on Friday to a home on Bayview Drive near Jefferson Avenue.
During a press conference that day, Chesterfield Director of Public Safety Brian Bassett said officers were notified that a 35-year-old woman was injured and escaped the incident with her 5-year-old daughter. A person driving by was able to help the mother and daughter call 911.
When authorities arrived, they immediately provided aid to the victims.
Additional officers went into the home where the incident took place. They found a 57-year-old man dead. Newsradio 950 WWJ reported that the victim is their own overnight news anchor Jim Matthews.
The station posted the following statement to their Twitter account:
A statement from WWJ on the tragic loss of our overnight anchor, Jim Matthews. pic.twitter.com/qlsRv5Ukp9
— WWJ 950 (@WWJ950) September 23, 2022
At the scene, police also found a 10-year-old boy who was bound and suffering from blunt force trauma.
The suspect was found in the basement suffering from self-inflicted wounds and an overdose.
Police say the suspect was at the home frequently, his relationship to the family is unknown. During a press conference Monday, police said they still have "limited clarity" at this point in terms of the relationship to the family, but said the suspect was welcomed into the home initially.
They also gave an update on the condition of the victims: the 35-year-old is currently in stable condition and being held for observation, the 10-year-old boy is in critical condition but stable and the 5-year-old has been released.
"They have nothing right now, absolutely nothing," said Sonya Healy, grandmother of the children traumatized in Friday's Chesterfield attack.
Family of the children have set up this GoFundMe for them to get the kids "everything they need."
"It’s horrific what we’ve had to overcome, and still overcome," said Healy to 7 Action News.
