KILLEEN, Texas — It has been seven months since Sandra Williams' son, Larry Kidd Jr., was shot and killed in Killeen—a tragedy that has left her family searching for justice and answers.
Larry Kidd Jr., a 28-year-old father of three, was shot the 900 block of W. Central Texas Expressway in February. The accused shooter, U.S. Army staff Sergeant Marlone Best, who is stationed at Fort Cavazos, is facing charges in what Williams believes was tied to a love triangle.
Williams' grief is palpable as she speaks about her son. “It just seems so unreal. And I keep telling myself it’s not real, but I know it is,” she confides, her voice tinged with disbelief and sorrow. The months following Larry’s death have been particularly harsh, marked by holidays and birthdays that serve as painful reminders of what has been lost. “September the second. He would have been 29,” Williams says with a heavy heart. “But it was taken from him so violently.”
Kidd was Williams’ oldest son. He was also a father to three young children who are now without their dad. His death has left an irreplaceable void in her life. “I can’t even explain how it feels not to see him or hear him.” The grief of losing a child is something Williams describes as unimaginable—something she would not wish on anyone.
According to Kidd's obituary, he graduated from Killeen High School in 2013 and played football at Mary Harden Baylor in Belton, as well as Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico.
Sgt. Best has been charged with the premeditated murder and is set to face trial in a military court. The process, however, has been slow, with no clear timeline for when justice might be served. The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel has yet to provide a definitive schedule, adding to Williams' frustration and sense of urgency for closure.
Williams' believes the shooting was not a random act of violence but rather the culmination of a tragic love triangle involving her son’s ex-wife. “His ex-wife was cheating with this guy [Best.] And I believe she set it up.” She claims that Sgt. Best had previously threatened her son, suggesting that there might have been a premeditated motive behind the shooting. This belief has fueled her demand for justice, not only for Larry but also for her family’s peace of mind.
Williams says the emotional toll has been immense, compounded by the fact that she has been cut off from her grandchildren since her son's death. The separation from her grandchildren has added another layer of pain to her already difficult situation. “Because of this situation, I didn’t just lose my son. I also lost my grandchildren.”
As Williams continues to navigate her grief, her plea for justice remains unwavering. “If I could have just been there before he took his last breath, just to tell him I love him and to hug him, that would have meant a lot,” she says, her voice breaking. Her heartfelt desire is not just for justice but for a semblance of closure and understanding in the wake of a tragedy that has forever altered her family’s life.
The case against Sgt. Best is ongoing, and Williams holds onto hope that the legal system will provide the justice her son’s memory deserves. For now, she endures the pain of loss and the challenge of continuing life without Kidd, while advocating for accountability in the face of her profound grief.
In a statement to 6 News, when asked for a statement to the family of Kidd, the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel said:
"Special Victim Liaisons assist victims in cases being handled by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Our SVL assigned to Fort Cavazos has been in contact with the victim’s mother and will assist her throughout the duration of the court-martial. SVLs are responsible for establishing and maintaining open lines of communication with victims to ensure they are informed, help them navigate the military justice process and provide assistance with local resources to ensure their needs are met.