From Tragedy Comes Empowerment and Redemption
ANGIE
BY: Gerald L. Owens – Buckeyes Behind
Bars Washington Correspondent
She remembers going to get her hair
done as she has done on many occasions
prior. After all, that tradition is somewhat a
rite of passage for young women in the Motor
City. But it was the events that followed on
one particular day that has forever forged
nauseating memories in the mind of Angela
Walker (Angie) thus, awakening the will to
survive and the desire to thrive.
On Friday August 18, 2008 Angie
returned to her place of residence on the
Westside of Detroit to chaos and commo-
tion. She was planning on going out for the
evening and arrived with a couple that was
expected to join her. Upon her return home,
she discovered that her boyfriend (Tyree
Anthony Williams) was very aggressive. He
had just slapped his 13 year old daughter.
After hearing negative comments about
what he had done Tyree stormed out of the
house and fired several shots from his hand
gun at the vehicle of the couple that was
waiting for Angie to change clothes. The
couple sped away in fear of their lives.
Terrified by his behavior, Angie bravely
confronted Tyree about the attack on his
daughter. It had been witnessed by Angie’s
sister, oldest daughter Angel and Tyree’s
son. Ironically, Angie now became the focal
point of Tyree’s aggression. His satanic
expression became even more frightening
and pronounced as he declared to her that “It
is time for you to die!”
Unfortunately, Angie was all too
familiar with the fear and despair of
domestic abuse. As a child she had endured
a tyrannical stepfather’s aggression toward
her mother. This coupled with the trials and
tribulations of poverty and despair impacted
her deeply.
Make no mistake about it - this was
indeed Angie’s moment of truth. Following
Tyree’s death declaration, Angie’s instincts
kicked into survival mode. Sensing that
this could be her last stand, Angie was at a
resolve to use any means at her immediate
disposal to disrupt this death declaration.
Angie ran to the stove and turned on
every knob. As the flames raged from the
stove top she began to fling paper and boxes
onto the fire. The debris began to smolder
and soon smoke engulfed the kitchen. It
was a desperate act but, desperate people do
desperate things!
Annoyed and infuriated at the smoke
and flames Tyree dragged Angie outside
Page 18 BUCKEYES BEHIND BARS • MAY 04, 2011 - MAY 11, 2011
continuing his sadistic offensive. He then
spat in Angie’s face as she pleaded with the
children to run for their lives. Her children
refused to follow their mother’s desperate
plea to “run” sensing that abandonment
would surely result in her death. Instead
they opted to stay and endure.
Tyree then ordered Angie to remove
the all the clothing that he had purchased.
Her children started removing clothing
items in solidarity with their mother. Tyree
unleashed a vicious attack on Angie as
she struggled to defend herself from the
ground. Angie’s daughter Amber attempted
to help her mother and was also attacked in
a ferocious manner that would result in her
needing hospitalization.
Some bystanders tried to intervene
to help Angie but she shouted a warning
to them: “Run for your lives – He will kill
you!” Some ten or more people attempted
to help by shouting and some even threw
bottles. Tyree’s son ran into the house to get
a gun and handed it to his father. During the
commotion Tyree’s so-called brother drew a
gun as well and they began shooting at the
people who gathered. One bullet whizzed
right past Angie’s daughter Asia’s head
narrowly missing her.
Tyree then concealed the weapon and
began dragging Angie as she noticed people
calling 911. Angie struggled and broke
away from her assailant and ran into an adja-
cent yard. Tyree fled in an opposite direc-
tion. The inhabitant of the home was alerted
by her dog and saw Angie standing shaking -
barely clad - in a T shirt and motioned her into
her house. Once in, Angie was comforted
by the occupant and the police were called.
They soon arrived with her children. The
only things the children brought with them
were two bibles. One of which was a family
heirloom given to Angie’s grandmother.
While on the run from the police Tyree
began calling on Angie’s phone attempting
to get her to see him. Angie’s aunt informed
her that Tyree had broken some of the
windows out in her home apparently frus-
trated because he could not find her. Angie
eventually ended up in Highland Park
(located within Detroit) and surrounded
herself with caring family and friends.
Adding insult to injury Angie was in
need of shelter and supportive intervention
from social services. She went from agency
to agency (over 40 in all) to get help. None
would help her! The reason most gave for
their refusal was that none wanted to risk
retaliation or the associated problems that
could occur as a result of dealing with such a
belligerent criminal.
Angie reached out to the National
Domestic Abuse Hotline, and they referred
her to a nearby safe location. While at
the safe place Angie got a phone call from
Detroit Police Department telling her that
they arrested Tyree and they were processing
him as they were speaking on the phone.
They saw him exiting a dope house, noticed
him, and arrested him. Tyree was convicted
of 5 counts of assault with a weapon. He
had an extensive criminal record. He was
sentenced and is expected to be in prison
at least until the year 2017 - no longer than
2030.
Angie now lives in safe location, and
is now in the process of compiling her
memoirs to be made into a book wherein she
will detail her warning signs against abuse.
She also has the desire of creating a founda-
tion with the goal of providing a secure and
safe haven for families in crisis due to abuse.
Angie’s life has been one of turmoil and trib-
ulation and now salvation in many ways she
sees herself as the embodiment of empower-
ment and redemption and a humbled benefi-
ciary of God’s grace.
Note: Ms. Walker can be reached at:
shortiemac531@yahoo.com.