A 61-year-old woman is jailed as investigators treat the case as a domestic-related shooting.
FERGUSON, Mo. — Grief spread across St. Louis County after a retired Berkeley fire chief and his 15-year-old daughter, a high school basketball player, were shot and killed inside their Ferguson home, while a 61-year-old woman was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The deaths of Henry Williams and his daughter, Ha’layna Elliot, have hit two communities at once: the first-responder world where Williams spent years leading crews, and the school sports world where his daughter’s practices, games and friendships shaped daily life. Police said the case appeared to be domestic-related, and the suspect, Linda Hayden, remained jailed on a $2 million cash-only bond as the investigation continued.
Ferguson officers were sent to a home in the 500 block of North Clay Avenue at about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, after a call that police said was reported as a medical emergency. When officers entered the home, they found Williams and a teenage girl suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said. Both were pronounced dead at the scene after lifesaving efforts. An arrest was made at the location as investigators secured the area and began interviewing people connected to the home.
Police publicly identified Williams as a retired Berkeley fire chief, and relatives later confirmed the teen was his daughter. In the hours that followed, friends and former co-workers described Williams as a steady leader who stayed connected to people long after shifts ended. Some spoke of him as a mentor who watched out for younger firefighters, while others remembered him as a father who rarely missed moments that mattered to his daughter, from school events to the routine cadence of team sports.
Hayden, a Ferguson resident, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action, according to reports from law enforcement and local prosecutors. Authorities have not publicly laid out the specific evidence behind the charges, and they have not described a motive. Investigators also have not detailed the relationship history between Hayden and Williams beyond describing her as a girlfriend, nor have they said how long she may have been connected to the household.
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said there was no ongoing threat to the public and described the case as an isolated domestic incident as detectives worked through early leads. Police did not release a description of the weapon involved or confirm whether a firearm was recovered, and they did not say whether any surveillance video, text messages or other digital records played a role in the early charging decision. Those details often emerge later through court filings, hearings and evidence presentations.
For Williams’ colleagues and friends, the news landed with a familiar dread: the sudden loss that emergency responders often face in other families, now hitting one of their own. Several people who knew him through public safety described him as a calm presence who took the job seriously but carried himself with warmth when the work was done. Some said he was the type of leader who checked on co-workers’ families, remembered birthdays and pushed younger firefighters to keep training even after a tough call.
At the same time, Elliot’s death left a quiet shock across school hallways and gym bleachers. Friends and community members described her as a rising player who was starting to make a name for herself, with coaches and classmates watching her confidence grow. Teen sports communities are often built on familiar routines—rides to practice, weekend tournaments, parents greeting each other in the stands—and several families said those routines suddenly felt fragile when they realized a player they expected to see again was gone.
The investigation’s early description as domestic-related shaped how neighbors processed what happened on their street. Residents in the area described a typical residential block where people walk dogs, drive home from errands and wave across yards. Some neighbors said they noticed a heavy police presence and learned quickly that two people had died, but many said they still did not understand what could have led to gunfire inside a home. Police have said little about the moments before officers arrived, beyond noting how the call came in and what they found when they entered.
Ferguson, a suburb north of St. Louis, has spent years working to rebuild trust and communication between residents and police, a history that often makes officials cautious in how they present developing information. In this case, police emphasized that the incident appeared isolated, a message meant to reduce broader fear while investigators continue to verify the facts. Even so, community leaders and families said the loss of a teen and her father carried a heavy emotional weight that went beyond the usual boundaries of a single neighborhood.
Hayden remained in custody at the St. Louis County Justice Center. A cash-only bond at the level set in this case generally reflects a judge’s view that the allegations are extremely serious and that release conditions must be strict. It was not immediately clear when her next court appearance would take place, whether she had legal counsel, or what evidence prosecutors planned to highlight first as the case moved through early hearings.
What comes next will likely unfold in stages. Detectives are expected to continue interviews and evidence collection, and prosecutors will begin preparing for preliminary proceedings where a judge reviews whether there is sufficient cause to keep the case moving forward. Autopsy work and forensic testing can also take time, and investigators have not said what results, if any, they are still waiting for. Police have asked anyone with information to contact the department as the case remains active.
As of Monday, authorities had not released a full narrative of the shooting, and key questions remained unanswered, including the exact sequence inside the home and what prompted the call that first brought officers to the address. For the families and communities mourning Williams and Elliot, the next milestone is expected to be the first court hearings in the murder case, where more details may become public.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 23, 2026.