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Police confirmed that Christopher Williams was shot and killed last week at a funeral in Philadelphia. Williams, wrongly convicted, spent over 25 years on death row before his release 22 months ago.

Philadelphia police released a statement confirming the death. And explaining that Williams, 62, “suffered gunshot wounds to the head” at Mount Peace Cemetery last Friday.

He was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital, where he was taken after the shooting.

The murder remains under investigation. The murder weapon has not been found. And no motives or suspects have been announced, so far.  

Wrongly convicted twice

 Williams was convicted in two separate 1989 cases. He was sentenced for a triple murder and for the murder of Michael Haynesworth. 

He and Co-defendant Troy Coulston were convicted together in the Haynesworth case in 1992.

In 1993, Williams and another co-defendant, Theophalis Wilson were convicted of the triple murder.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's prosecutors pushed for the dismissal of both cases against Williams. And exonerated him for the murder cases.

Jane Roh, Krasner's communications director, said in a statement that Williams' slaying was "tragic." 

"What Chris endured as a twice-wrongfully convicted exoneree is unfathomable. And that his short-lived freedom was marked by struggle, as Pennsylvania is one of 12 states in the U.S. that does not compensate the wrongfully convicted, is unconscionable," she added.

Krasner was impeached by the Pennsylvania state House in November on unrelated matters.

Williams became an advocate for others

After being freed Williams began advocating for other prisoners he believed were wrongly convicted. And his dream was to start a program to help former prisoners re-enter society. 

Williams’ long-time attorney, Stuart Lev, claimed the death is a tragedy. 

“It’s incredibly tragic. This guy went through decades in prison, 25 years on death row, for crimes that he did not commit, because the system failed. He kept fighting, and he wouldn’t give up. He just kept insisting that he keep trying different ways of fighting. Whether that was to keep his hopes up or that was just his own determination and perseverance, that’s what he did. He worked very hard with his lawyers to make sure his lawyers kept doing that, too.”

Williams left a grown son Christopher Hartwell who said his father "taught me how to be a better man" and "helped me be a better father myself".