PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Several local and federal law enforcement agencies have come together in hopes of finding an armed and dangerous man wanted for shooting his girlfriend to death while she held their baby in the front seat of her car.
With the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Marshals Service, the St. Petersburg Police Department is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 38-year-old Benjamin Robert “Bambi” Williams.
“Thanks to our federal partners, there’s no place for him to hide because wherever he is, with this information out there, we’re going to find him and we’re going to do everything we can to bring him to justice,” said St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
Police say Williams shot and killed 27-year-old Joana Peca on Saturday, July 31 in the Woodlawn Memorial Gardens cemetery. Peca was holding their 4-month-old child when he shot her several times in the face, with her 4-year-old son in the backseat.
“That 4-year-old has got to live with that for the rest of their life watching his mom being executed,” Holloway said.
Joana’s mother, Eleni Peca, is now pleading the community for any information leading to Williams’ arrest.
“We need justice. The babies need justice… I’m here to beg everybody, I need your help to find this guy,” Peca said. “People like him, they shouldn’t be on the streets. Today he did it to my daughter, tomorrow he can do it to somebody else.”
St. Pete police say Williams has been a person of interest in previous homicide cases across the city.
If you have any information on this case, police ask that you call 1-877-926-8332.