Tranell Williams, Katt Williams’ longtime security guard, faces first-degree murder charges following a grand jury indictment in the August 2025 shooting death of comedian Reggie Carroll.
Katt Williams Security guard Tranell Williams faces first-degree murder charges after a grand jury indicted him Thursday in connection with the August 2025 shooting death of comedian Reggie Carroll in Southaven, Mississippi.
DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton obtained the indictment, but Williams insists his actions were reasonable.
The case centers on a roommate dispute that escalated into violence at a house rented by the comedy icon’s company.
Williams, Kate’s long-time security expert, claims he acted in self-defense when Carol allegedly pulled a weapon on him multiple times during their three-month stay.
Williams said Carroll threatened him with a gun multiple times, and he recorded several of the violent interactions as evidence, WREG reported.
“I ran 10 times,” Williams told reporters, describing his attempts to escape confrontation before the fatal incident in August.
The victim, Reggie Carroll, was a 52-year-old Baltimore-born comedian and Army veteran who had been on Carter’s Heaven on Earth tour. Carol was evicted from Kate’s mansion and placed with Williams at Nanshanwen’s residence.
Maryland court records show Carroll is a convicted felon prohibited from owning firearms, but he allegedly obtained the weapon during the dispute.
By contrast, Williams held a valid concealed weapons license in Mississippi.
Williams claimed Carroll was using methamphetamine and Molly pills, behavior he witnessed while they were together.
He said the indictment actually benefits his defense strategy because it gives him subpoena power to obtain toxicology reports that could support his claim of self-defense.
Williams was released on $500,000 bail and placed on an ankle monitor pending trial. According to WREG, Williams was fully prepared for this moment and believed the evidence would prove him right.
Williams’ legal team is expected to present documented evidence of Carroll’s violence and toxicology results once they are obtained during the discovery process.
