Man Arrested for Traffic Court Murder

Police have arrested a man for his involvement in the death of a 21-year-old pregnant woman outside Philadelphia Traffic Court.

Walter Williams, 28, was arrested on Tuesday without incident and charged with the murder of Tovoyia Owens after a thorough investigation from Homicide Detectives.

Owens, a mother to a 4-year-old girl, and her current boyfriend were leaving the courthouse at 800 Spring Garden St. on Monday, Feb. 7, when they had some sort of altercation with a group of men just before 2 p.m., sources said.

Witnesses said that about five men attacked Owens in front of the courthouse.

"We saw all these guys, like, beating this girl," said one witness, David Cole. "And she was pregnant, and like, no one tried to help."

During the fight, one of the men allegedly struck Owens in the head. She fell to the ground, possibly hitting her head against the pavement, police said.

Owens was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m. at Hahnemann Hospital after the altercation.

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide due to blunt force trauma.

Originally it was believed that an ex-boyfriend of Owens was involved in the attack but a police source said that isn't true. She did however know the men, according to the source.

Owens was taking classes at Cheyney University and worked as a pharmacy technician at a West Philly Rite Aid, family members said.

Friends and family gathered outside that Rite Aid last Wednesday to remember Owens.

"To know her is to love her," Owens' father Frank Walker said. "I have a heavy heart right now and I pray to God to soften my heart."

Its unknown at this time what connection Williams had to Owens.


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