Fatal shooting victim's family talks about loved one's life, disputes death

Two years ago, the family of Tommy Williams' says they found themselves living a nightmare after police say the Vidor man was shot and killed in his home.

Last week, an Orange County jury indicted his wife, 39-year-old Tanya Williams, on manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting.

Tonight, Tommy Williams' family talks about his life .. and his death.

"He was a jokester, he loved to laugh and you know we all miss that," said Tommy Williams' daughter, Chassity Hofelzer.

The last time Tommy Williams' family heard his laugh was almost two years ago.. before Vidor Police say he was shot and killed on New Years Eve.

Authorities say Williams' wife, 39-year-old Tanya Williams, shot Tommy during an argument in the early morning hours of December 31st, 2007. The 45-year-old later died from that gunshot wound at a Beaumont hospital.

An Orange County grand jury indicted Tanya Williams last week on manslaughter charges for the shooting.  Tommy's family says the indictment was a long time coming.

"It was well-needed, it was well-deserved, I can't really say that it was closure because it's not over yet, but it was something that needed to be done."

According the a probable cause affidavit obtained by KFDM after the shooting, Tanya Williams told police she and Tommy had been fighting at their home in Vidor, when her husband, of six months, hit her in the head and pulled out her hair. The affidavit says the fight ended up in the bedroom where Williams said she felt trapped, grabbed a gun she wasn't sure was fully loaded and fired it at Tommy's head after he asked, 'What are you going to do, shoot me?'

Tommy's daughter says she doesn't believe a word of that story, especially since there is no record of any domestic violence calls to the home before the night Tommy died.

"He's not gonna be the type of person to hit somebody, who's even gonna shove somebody.. that's just not who he was," said Hofelzer, "And no I don't believe that the incidents that were stated happened that night actually happened."

What Williams' family 'does' know is that closure is closer now.. more than ever.

Hofelzer said, "We are trying to be hopeful that justice is going to be served the way it should be."

We could find no record of Tanya Williams hiring an attorney.

We tried to reach Williams for comment several different ways, including calling the phone number listed at the home registered under her name.

The person who answered at that number said there was no one at the residence by that name.