London footballer Ezekiel Williams dies after attack in Milton Keynes

Police have arrested three men in connection with the death of Ezekiel Williams, a 26-year-old footballer who was killed during an unprovoked attack in Milton Keynes in the early hours of Sunday. The suspects were detained on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender, marking a critical step in the investigation into the incident.

Williams, a resident of Ruislip in west London, played for Hendon FC and had recently appeared for Kettering Town. He died after walking toward an Airbnb he had booked for a night out. The two men accused of the murder are aged 21 and 28 and are from Luton. A third man, aged 30, was arrested on suspicion of helping the offenders.

Beyond his time on the pitch, Williams was well known for his work with young athletes. He ran training and mentoring sessions for children aged eight and older. Many of the players he coached went on to join professional football academies. His best friend, Tyrique Clarke, co-founded a training camp called Journey of A Professional three years ago. The program has trained hundreds of boys and girls in the area.

Clarke described Williams as a peaceful Christian and a peacemaker. He said the attack was inexplicable given the victim's nature. "Ezekiel was a shining light to all he came across," Clarke said. He noted that hundreds of messages have arrived since the news broke, with some parents reporting that their children are too upset to attend school.

Williams' brother also paid tribute to his sibling, calling him a shining light to the community. He highlighted Williams' attention to detail and his competitive yet friendly demeanor. "It brings me great joy and pride as his brother to see that some of my teachings became some of his core values," the brother said. He added that Williams' spirit would remain on the pitch through the players he had mentored.

Hendon FC, which competes in the Isthmian League South Central Division, released a statement on X describing Williams as a humble and generous individual. The club noted that he had recently scored his first goal for the team. In a show of respect, the club postponed its planned cup match scheduled for Wednesday.

A parent of one of the junior players shared their grief on social media, calling Williams an inspiration to their two sons. The parent said the family was struggling to believe they would no longer see his smile during their regular training sessions. A fundraiser has been established to support the family's memory of Williams.