William’s story has been lightly edited for clarity.

I am 49 years old. I been in jail my hole life. I was 18 year old when I did this crime. I know what I did was wrong. I wish I can take it back but can’t. I was young and I was hanging with the wrong people and was young and stupid. I am so sorry for what happen to the family. I wish I can take it back but I can’t. I have learn a lots since I’ve been down. I learn how to work on myself and to help orders how come in and they don’t now what to do there time. I wish that you can help me be with my family. I have lost same of my family since I been down and know I now how it feel like. Now that I am older I have learn a lot since I’ve been down. I wish to spend the rest of my life with my family so can you please help me be with my family.

I was outside Victor house. He lives on Bouniot street. We was drinking. It was Victor, his father and his brother-law. Burt and Fabian came up, they were in Bert’s car. They called me to the car and said let’s go cruisisn around. We went around for about and hour. Then we drove past this store. It’s a steak shop. They call the guy Billy. Fabian told Burt to drive the car up this little street and park the car. Fabian told me to walk him to the store. He told Burt to stay in the car. When we was walking down the street, Fabian told me that we are going to stick the store up. I didn’t know Fabian was going to pull out a gun and shoot the guy. We went in the store, Fabian ordered a bag of chip and a soda. You can get the soda your self. I think he got an ice tea. The old guy was sitting behind the counter near the window, he was reading a newspaper. Fabian told him he wanted a bag of bar-b-que chips. The guy had to go near the window to get the chips. When the old man getting the chips, I went outside. 

Before we had got to the store, Fabian told me that I was going to stay outside and look while he stuck the guy up. So I’m standing outside, the guy come up with the chips. He pits the chips on the counter, Fabian hand him a 5 dollar bill. The old man opens up the register and Fabian pull out a gun. He points the gun at the old man and says give me the money. The old man had his hand under the register and pulled his gun. When the old man pulled his gun up, Fabian started to shoot him. Fabian shot his gun alot, maybe around 9 times. I don’t know if the old man shot back, he was going back away from Fabian. 

I started to run away, I ran past the window they serve people at, the old man was at the window with his gun, I kept running, Fabian was behind me. We ran back up this little street that Burt was parked on. We got in the car and Burt drive away, he went back to Boundiot street. We got out of the car. Fabian was talking about shooting the guy. Told him to keep his mouth shut or it will get back to the wrong people and we will get in trouble. After Fabbian told everybody. Him and Burt left in car. Later on, I went home to my aunts house. 

This is what happen to me. But ever sent I been down I have going to school and I have taking pre-ged I have taking ABE language arts / reading and building trades and CDL and Thinking for a Change and long term offender program and I’m in this organization call RBO. 

Well this is all. If you would like now anything else just let me now. 

Thank you for your time and patience.