Man sentenced to life plus 5 years in prison for murder of Travious Floyd

The second man convicted in a fatal shooting outside the historic Floyd County Courthouse last year was sentenced Thursday to life in prison plus five years.

Joseph E. Williams, 25, was convicted in July in Floyd County Superior Court of murdering 22-year-old Travious Deshune Floyd. He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

Floyd was found dead on the steps of the courthouse on Fifth Avenue on May 24, 2015.

Williams was also found guilty of three counts of aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and possession of a gun during the commission of a crime.

The sentencing was short, lasting under five minutes. Williams’ attorney, Steve Lanier, and Williams himself both told Judge Tami Colston they still disagree with the verdict.

“That’s unfortunate,” Colston told him. “I was hoping you would take responsibility for your part in this.”

Williams and his New York cousin Stephon Rickman came to Rome on the night of the murder with Jamarco Montae Gibbs, who was performing under the stage name Bandit Gang Marco at The Peach nightclub on Broad Street. Floyd and his two brothers were part of the audience that night.

A fight broke out in the nightclub, forcing security to shut down the club. Gibbs and his entourage went to their cars on Tribune Street, with Williams and Rickman getting in a car directly behind Gibbs.

Floyd and his two brothers allegedly saw Gibbs’ vehicle and rushed it. Williams and Rickman claimed they pulled guns to scare away the Floyd brothers but fired in the air.

They each testified the other fired the fatal bullet. Police never determined whose shot killed Floyd.

Rickman was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison following a trial on April 8. He will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years.