Nanon McKewn Williams was 17 years old when he was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in Texas for a crime he didn’t commit. Post-conviction testing later established that critical ballistics testimony presented at his trial was wrong. More than three decades later, Nanon remains incarcerated while his fight for justice continues.
Free Nanon Williams Movement
Why Nanon’s Case Still Demands Review
At Nanon’s trial, firearms testimony identified the fatal bullet as a .25-caliber round attributed to him. Post-conviction testing later established that the bullet was instead .22 caliber—the same caliber as the recovered weapon attributed to his co-defendant.
Although his death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after the Supreme Court barred executions for offenses committed by people under 18, his capital murder conviction remains in place.
In 2024, the Texas Forensic Science Commission issued its final report concerning the firearms/toolmarks testimony in Nanon’s case. In July 2025, Nanon’s legal team filed a new application for writ of habeas corpus, raising claims based on the later firearms/toolmark review under Texas post-conviction law. In January 2026, the court issued an order designating issues for post-conviction review.
Who is Nanon Williams?
Nanon McKewn Williams grew up in Los Angeles and was only 17 years old when he was arrested, convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to death in Texas.
During more than three decades of incarceration, Nanon has become a writer, student, mentor, and craftsman. He has published poetry and books, earned an associate’s degree, a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences, and a Master of Arts in Humanities, while creating art, jewelry, and handmade works from prison. His official advocacy site also states that he has nearly completed a second master’s degree in Literature.
Nanon is more than a case file. He is a son, husband, brother, uncle, writer, artist, student, mentor, and friend whose life continues to matter deeply to the people who love him and fight for his freedom.
Key Documents and Evidence
Explore several of the records central to understanding Nanon’s case, the forensic evidence challenged after trial, and the continuing legal effort to obtain review.
Texas Forensic Science Commission Report
Complaint No. 21.27
Addresses the firearms/toolmarks testimony presented in Nanon’s case and the later forensic review of that evidence.
Amnesty International: Dead Wrong: The Case of Nanon Williams, Child Offender Facing Execution on Flawed Evidence
Documents Nanon’s juvenile death sentence and raises concerns about the flawed firearms evidence used at trial.
Federal Habeas Proceedings
Traces the federal court history, including the 2010 grant of habeas relief and the Fifth Circuit’s later reversal.
2025 Habeas Application
Presents the renewed post-conviction effort based on later forensic developments and Texas law concerning scientific evidence.
2026 Order Designating Issues for Review
Designates issues for review in the pending post-conviction proceedings.
Bryonn and Lyrics From Lockdown
For years, Bryonn Bain has carried Nanon Williams’s story into theaters, classrooms, prisons, and public conversations through Lyrics From Lockdown, his multimedia performance work examining wrongful incarceration and the human cost of the prison system.
Created and performed by Bryonn, Lyrics From Lockdown begins with his own wrongful imprisonment while studying law at Harvard and expands into a larger examination of incarceration, racial profiling, art, and justice.
Nanon’s letters and writing are woven into the production, preserving his voice and inviting audiences to engage with his life, his case, and the continuing fight for his freedom.
Take Action for Nanon
Nanon’s case remains active, and public attention matters. Learn the record, share his story, and follow the continuing fight for justice. Prisoners in Texas do not have the opportunity to earn money, nor are there grants or student loan opportunities for individuals with a life sentence. Nanon relies on donations, book sales, and proceeds from LYRICS FROM LOCKDOWN to sponsor his education.
Learn the Case
Explore selected public case documents, legal history, forensic findings, and media coverage related to Nanon Williams’s fight for justice.
Follow Case Updates
Visit Nanon’s official advocacy site to sign up for news and updates about his fight for freedom.
Watch & Share Nanon’s Story
View documentary and advocacy videos that help bring public attention to Nanon’s life and case.
Support Lyrics From Lockdown
Learn more about the performance project that has carried Nanon’s voice and story to audiences around the world.
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Sources and Documentation: Information on this page is supported by court records, the Texas Forensic Science Commission’s final report on Complaint No. 21.27, Amnesty International’s Dead Wrong report, Nanon Williams’s official advocacy site, the official Lyrics From Lockdown website, and selected public case documents related to Nanon Williams’s post-conviction proceedings.