Shantay Butts did everything she could to protect herself. She documented the harassment. She moved to a new home. She called the police. She went to court. She begged for help. But none of it stopped Mike “Little Mack” Williams from coming back and killing her.
On July 11, 2025, Shantay Butts, a 36-year-old mother of four, was gunned down in her home while her children were inside. Her current boyfriend was also shot and hospitalized. Williams, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her children, was arrested the following day. For many, Shantay’s murder is yet another example of a system that fails domestic violence survivors even after they cry out for help.
A Long Trail of Abuse and Missed Red Flags
Court records paint a chilling picture of repeated violence and missed opportunities to stop it. Shantay had reported Williams to police numerous times for stalking, strangulation, break-ins, and violating protective orders. Each time, she was granted temporary protections, or Williams served short stints in jail, but he kept coming back.
In July 2024, Butts told deputies that Williams broke into her home, put her in a chokehold, and kicked her repeatedly. He fled when her daughter walked in. Williams later pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including domestic battery by strangulation, but served only 157 days in jail.
He was ordered to have no contact with Butts, an order he repeatedly violated. In November 2024, Butts reported Williams broke into her home again and stole her phone. He was charged, but the felony was reduced to a misdemeanor. He served 66 days in jail.
By July 2025, just six days before the murder, Butts made yet another desperate call to police, reporting that Williams was stalking her, tampering with her doorbell camera, and threatening to harm her and her workplace. Deputies issued an arrest warrant for aggravated stalking. It wasn’t enough.
Her Son Called 911
The fatal shooting happened in the early morning hours of July 11.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Williams forced his way into Shantay’s home, shot her multiple times, and wounded her boyfriend. Butts’ own son, one of her four children, was the one who called 911.
The horror of that moment is compounded by the fact that many believe it could have been prevented.
The System Failed Her
Legal advocates say Shantay’s death underscores a larger crisis in how domestic violence cases are handled. Despite a documented history of abuse involving not just Shantay, but at least three other women, Williams was able to repeatedly dodge serious jail time. Even when Shantay pleaded for help, the responses were limited and temporary.
“This is exactly what victims fear when they come forward,” said one advocate who works with survivors of intimate partner violence. “She took every step she was supposed to — and she still died.”
Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, while not speaking directly about Shantay’s case, has said that domestic violence cases often suffer from a lack of victim cooperation. But in Shantay’s case, that wasn’t the issue. She cooperated. She showed up. She spoke out. Still, the pattern continued and ultimately ended in tragedy.
Remembering Shantay
Shantay Butts’ family has asked for privacy, but told local news she was a loving mother and a courageous woman who tried to break free. They want the world to know what happened to her and to fight harder for others still trapped in similar situations.
They also want justice, not just through the courts, but through stronger laws, better enforcement of protective orders, and faster responses to escalating threats.
If You Need Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org. Resources and support are available 24/7.
