January 24th, 2025 – 3:00 PM
Press Release: District Attorney of the 9th Judicial Circuit of DeKalb & Cherokee AL Counties –
District Attorney Summer Summerford announced on Friday that Eric Kyle Hooper was convicted by a Cherokee County jury of murder for the 2022 death of Lachancey Williams.
On March 15, 2022, during routine road maintenance on Esom Hill Road in Polk County, Georgia, a road crew discovered a black truck toolbox that contained a body wrapped in a tarp.
The body, which had been shot twice with a shotgun, was identified at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime lab as being that of Lachancey Williams. A broad criminal investigation immediately began with GBI and Polk County Police Department interviewing potential witnesses.
Once it was determined that the murder took place in Cherokee County, Alabama, the case was transferred to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
The GBI crime lab was able to find a fingerprint on the duct tape removed from the tarp around Williams’s body.
The fingerprint matched a known print of Eric Kyle Hooper. The fingerprint and eyewitness statements led to the arrest of Hooper for murder.
The case was presided over by Circuit Judge Shaunathan Bell. Jury selection began on Monday, January 13th and opening statements began on Tuesday, January 14th.
After numerous witnesses and over 160 exhibits were presented, the State rested its case on Friday, January 17th.
During the Defendant’s case in chief, several witnesses, including the Defendant himself, took the stand.
Closing arguments were presented by both sides on the evening of Wednesday, January 22nd. On the morning of Thursday, January 23rd, the jury returned a GUILTY verdict.
A sentencing hearing is set in February. Hooper’s possible range of punishment is a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. The State will seek the maximum sentence.
The conviction of Hooper marks a historic moment for Cherokee County as there are now no pending intentional murder cases in the jurisdiction.
Such a situation has not occurred in many years. This milestone highlights the exceptional efforts of the major crimes investigators and the District Attorney’s office staff, whose dedication and efficiency have not only expedited the resolution of cases but also contributed to a significant reduction in violent crime across the county.
According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, “this achievement underscores the importance of a committed justice system in fostering community safety and justice.”
According to Summerford, “I am proud of how the different agencies worked together to ensure justice was served. So many people worked on this investigation that it would be impossible to name them all. The community can rest well with the knowledge that there are dedicated public servants who devote their time and interest to making sure our citizens are safe. For the first time in many years, there are currently no pending intentional murder cases in Cherokee County. It is my hope that those who would commit such atrocities see the writing on the wall and stay out of our jurisdiction.”
This case was prosecuted by Summerford and Deputy District Attorney Brady Burns, with assistance from numerous other staff members including Assistant District Attorney Matt Green and Assistant District Attorney Dennis Thompson.
