He snapped pictures before killing her

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A promising young college student becomes the focus of a twisted game.

(Arkansas, Pine Bluff) University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff; 19-year-old Dominque "Nikki" Hurd was very pretty with a beautiful smile that would light up any room. She was very close to her family and never met a stranger. She was outgoing and a good baker of chocolate cookies. Nikki had an interest in the school choir and her plate was full of activities and a great social life. There were several suitors on campus, however, her studies were her main focus and dating was not. Her ultimate goal was to get into Spelman for medical school. Peter was her friend who was also in the choir. He was a good student, a nice mature young man and they got along well.

(December 5th, 1998) After a busy day of shopping, Dominique and her cheerleading coach was headed home when a call comes in. The caller said there was a kidnapping at gunpoint of someone close to them. Everyone is shocked. Later, after church, Nikki and Pete decided to go out to dinner. As they were walking out of the restaurant, they take a picture to commemorate the day they spent together. As they are taking pictures, a stranger walked up to them and asked if they were college students, engaged in small talk, and offered to take a picture of them together. They posed for the picture hoping he would just walk away. They did not know him and did not recognize him. To their relief, the stranger walks off.

As they are saying goodbye the stranger walks back up to them and orders them into the car. He took them to an ATM and Peter withdrew $70. Then, he drove them to a rural remote area and made them walk into the woods. He forces them to kneel in front of him and takes Nikki's wallet and finds the camera. He makes them say "Cheese" while he snapped pictures of them. The criminal goes on to flirt with Nikki, take more pictures, and even orders Peter to pull up Nikki's dress. They did as they were told. The assailant took their car keys and asked them to close their eyes while pointing the gun-walking away threatening to kill them if they told anyone.

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Relieved they quickly attempted to get away before he came back. As they walked the road a car pulled up, they notice it is the gunman and they attempt to run away from him again. He catches up to them and shoots them in cold blood. Peter was shot two times in the stomach and Nikki's injuries are more severe in the head, right knee, and the side of the body. Peter went to get help and they are rushed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Nikki never showed up for a family party and at first, no one is concerned. The family is called and told of the news and everyone is shocked. Dominique succumbs to her injuries and is removed from life support. Peter is serious but stable. As the family grieves the police investigate the murder. Peter was able to provide a description and the police were alerted a car was on fire. They canvas the area and a neighbor tipped off to an apartment belonging to (Williams). Police showed Peter a picture of (Williams) and he identified him as the man who kidnapped them and killed Nikki. (Williams) is also identified in the carjacking of the close person earlier. An arrest warrant was issued and one week after, he is arrested without incident. On April 28th, 2017, (Williams) dies of lethal injection.

Sources and Links

https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/convicted-murderer-and-death-row-inmate-remembered-changed-man

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/apr/22/remembering-dominique-hurd-through-home-movies/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9082814/

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True Crime Empress