Duluth Man Sentenced to Jail for Fatal Shooting of Neighbor Through Apartment Wall

A Duluth man has been sentenced to jail after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct in the death of his next-door neighbor, who was fatally shot while lying in her bed.

Maxwell Mathews Williamson, 25, was sentenced to eight months in jail followed by one year and four months of probation for the September 25, 2021, shooting that killed 36-year-old Carlether Foley. The incident left Foley’s teenage son without his mother.

“This defendant’s reckless actions left a teenaged son without his mother and the teen’s grandmother without her only daughter,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “It is vitally important that gun owners handle and store weapons responsibly. There must be accountability when gun owners are irresponsible and innocent victims are harmed.”

On the night of the shooting, Williamson claimed he was cleaning his handgun in his ground-floor apartment when the weapon unintentionally discharged. The single bullet passed through the common wall of his apartment and struck Foley in the head while she was in bed.

During the trial, evidence revealed that Williamson placed a note on Foley’s apartment door before leaving the premises and did not report the shooting to police. Foley’s 17-year-old son returned home later that evening to find his mother deceased and called emergency responders.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney John Williams and Assistant District Attorney Bradley McMahon, with support from Victim Witness Advocate Sara Gardner and DA’s Investigator Jeff Lamphier. Gwinnett County Police Detective A.M. Carter led the initial investigation.

Williamson’s sentencing underscores the importance of responsible gun ownership and accountability when negligence leads to loss of life.