May 21, 2013
News 12 11 o'clock / Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW) -- Spc. Jemel Robinson wants to send to his friend's daughter a message.
"I want her to know that her dad was a good person, no matter what she hears," Robinson said.
Robinson has served in the U.S. Army for the past five years, and one of those years was spent with Chaz Williams serving in Iraq.
"A very good friend and a very good solider," Robinson said.
The two worked in communications while overseas, but Robinson says that doesn't mean they didn't fear for their lives.
"There's been times when we received indirect fire. There was nothing for us to do other than get in the shelter and pray to God nothing happens," Robinson said.
Robinson and Williams both joined the Army around the same time. Robinson says the main reason they clicked was because Williams enjoyed life.
"He liked to joke. He liked to laugh. He liked to dance ... he loved to dance," Robinson said.
That's why he said it's so hard to believe that Williams could be a threat to anyone.
"He was a good guy. Everything he did was out of the kindness of his heart," Robinson said.
Robinson says people need to stop jumping to conclusions just because of Williams' past legal problems.
"He is not a killer at all. I don't ever remember him being aggressive towards anybody or towards himself," he said.
Robinson says transitioning to life out of a war zone has been difficult for him, and maybe Williams was experiencing the same issues the night he lost his life.
"Certain situations make you feel uncomfortable. It's harder for you to display your emotions and how you are feeling," Robinson said.
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