Four charged in relation to death of actor Michael K Williams
The late actor and avid house music fan was allegedly sold heroin laced with fentanyl
Four people have been arrested in relation to the late actor Michael K Williams' death.
He passed away due to a drug overdose which contained a combination of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
Police in New York and Puerto Rico have arrested four men who have been linked to the alleged sale of the drug that killed Michael K Williams. Police claim that they sold drugs laced with fentanyl.
On September 6 2021, Michael K. Williams “tragically overdosed in his New York City apartment from fentanyl-laced heroin,” US Attorney Williams said in a press statement.
The suspects include Hector Robles, Luis Cruz and Carlos Macci, all of whom are due to make their first court appearances on Wednesday. Irvin Cartagena was also arrested on Tuesday in Puerto Rico.
Investigators found footage of these men allegedly selling drugs to Williams the day before he was found dead in his Brooklyn flat.
"This is a public health crisis. And it has to stop," US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement announcing the arrests.
"Deadly opioids like fentanyl and heroin don't care about who you are or what you've accomplished. They just feed addiction and lead to tragedy."
According to officials, these men have allegedly tried to sell drugs in Manhattan and Brooklyn even after they were aware their reportedly laced produce killed Williams.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid which has similar properties to morphine, but is 50-100 times more potent. It can sometimes be used as a painkiller in extreme cases of pain.
According to the Daily Beast, NYPD detectives treated his death as a homicide.
Williams was best known for his role as Omar Little on the HBO series The Wire, and he started his career alongside Tupac in the 1996 film Bullet, while dancing in music videos and on tour for artists such as Madonna and George Michael.
He was an avid house music fan, who counted the likes of Louie Vega among his friends.
Louie Vega commemorated the late actor on Instagram following his death, posting: "We’ve lost a King who graced the house community with his presence and energy. He always came in smiling and dancing, showing love and spreading joy, lighting up any room."
[Via: BBC]
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