Former Hawk in critical condition after nightclub shooting
The security guard who was shot several times inside a crowded DeKalb County nightclub early Sunday is former Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Williams, the AJC has learned.
Williams, 46, known as "Big Mike," remains in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital. He was shot inside Club 426, located on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday. No one else was hurt.
Police said they have no suspects or motive in the shooting.
A Chicago native, Williams averaged 12.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in his college career at Cincinnati and Bradley. Golden State drafted him in 1986. But he didn't stick on an NBA roster until 1989, when Sacramento signed him.
The Hawks acquired the 6-8, 255-pound power forward and point guard Kenny Smith in a 1990 trade with the Kings. Williams played in five games before the Hawks waived him, ending his 21-game NBA career.
Club owner Jean Chrispin, 55, told the AJC he was behind the bar when the shooting started. He heard five or six shots.
Nothing like this has ever happened at Club 426, he said.
Chrispin added there is security at the entrance that should have prevented the shooting.
"I don't know how the gun is coming inside the club," he said.
