Suspect in Killings a Gentle, Good Guy: Friend

Brian Williams of Rancho Penasquitos faces two murder charges for the stabbing deaths of his mother and sister.

His mother, Donna Williams, was a decorated veteran of the San Diego Police Department. His sister, Breanna “Bree” Williams was a standout athlete and recent graduate of Mt. Carmel High School.

Adam Evans has known Brian Williams for about 8 years, and only has positive things to say about him.

"The Brian I know is gentle, he's a good guy,” Evans said. “He's always laughing."

San Diego police arrived to the Williams’ home on 9800 Paseo Montril after 1:30 a.m. Monday responding to calls from neighbors reporting screams from inside the home.

Officers found Bree Williams' nude body on a sidewalk. Her brother Brian, 24, was calmly sitting next to her a large kitchen knife not far away.

Evans can't believe Williams would ever hurt anyone, let alone kill his mother and sister.

“He said he was going to school to be a preacher or minister,” the friend said. “He was working for the church. He was always with them.”

"He loved his family, that's all he cared, he wanted to do good in life," he continued.

Another friend who didn't want to be identified said Brian Williams was often quiet and started to show signs of depression after his father, former San Diego police sergeant Howard Williams died of cancer in 2007.

According to police sources Williams also suffers from mental illness. Just last month officers were called to the family home because of problems he was causing.

Sources say Donna even threatened to kick her son out of the house because he wasn't taking his medications for schizophrenia.

Medications can dramatically help people who suffer from schizophrenia.

“It's a severe illness that affects the way the brain functions it affects the way people think, often causes paranoia delusions and even hallucinations,” said psychiatrist Clark Smith.

"But when people stop their medications, they can become out of control."

If that is the case with Brian Williams, friends say this is a tragedy that could have been avoided.

"Brian, if anything, he just needs help,” Evans said. “This is not him."

Brian Williams has been booked at the county jail facing two counts of murder. Deputies say he is being held in a cell by himself and is not responding when deputies to to speak to him.  He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

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