Crime Stoppers

2 arrested in connection with boxer's murder

ATLANTA — Police have arrested two people, including a 16-year-old, in connection with a crime spree leading up to the murder of a former boxing champion.

Officials tell Channel 2's Liz Artz that Cortez Williams, 16, will be charged as an adult. He was taken into custody on Thursday morning.

Police also arrested Tycorion Davis and charged him with murder. Detectives told Artz that Davis pulled the trigger and killed former boxing champ O'Neil Bell.

Williams is charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and false imprisonment in connection with a series of crimes before the shooting.

Police say Bell, 41, stepped off a MARTA bus on Nov. 25 when four men pulled up, robbed another bus passenger and shot that man and Bell.

Bell was shot in the chest and died. The second victim, who did not know Bell, was shot in the hip.

"How could you just take somebody's loved ones from them like that for no reason at all," Bell's mother, Norma, said.

Detectives believe Williams was with a group of men who earlier had carjacked a woman at a Clayton County Walmart then shot Bell at the bus stop.

The carjacking victim's ID was found at the murder scene. Williams was spotted in surveillance video, police say.

He is not charged with Bell's murder but is accused of a number of crimes committed in the days before the killing.

Police believe the two worked together in the crime spree.

Bell's mother plans to take his body back to his native Jamaica to bury him alongside his grandparents.

"I don't know how I'm going to get through that. That's going to be the hardest part," Bell told Artz.

She says her son called her everyday and she shared a voice mail he left for her.

"Just checking on you, didn't hear nothing from you today. Probably at work. Call me later then OK? I love you. Bye," Bell told his mother.

"I want to know what this young man was thinking," Norma Bell said. "Did he call his mom everyday and say 'Mom I love you.' I would like for him to answer that question."

Police are looking for up to two more suspects.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477 or text Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 274637.

Stay with wsbtv.com and Channel 2 Action News for developments in this story.

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