Hundreds gather to mourn ex-gang leader Williams

Travon Williams, right, son of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, is hugged after the funeral service for his father Tuesday in Los Angeles. Mourners waited in line to enter the 1,500-seat Bethel AME Church for a ceremony that stretched more than four hours. (CHRIS CARLSON / AP)

LOS ANGELES — Celebrities from hip-hop star Snoop Dogg to motivational speaker Tony Robbins lamented the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams at a funeral Tuesday that drew hundreds of people to the violence-wracked area where Williams co-founded the Crips gang three decades ago.

Under heavy police presence, mourners — including gang members flashing hand signs — waited in line to enter the 1,500-seat Bethel AME Church for a ceremony that stretched more than four hours.

After the service, many of those outside the church dropped to the ground after hearing what sounded like three gunshots about a block away, but there were no injuries and no arrests.

Vendors sold T-shirts with Williams' picture, and a large TV set up in the parking lot allowed the overflow crowd to watch the service.

Williams was executed Dec. 13 for murder, despite clemency pleas from celebrities and others who said he had rededicated his life to peace.

"It's nine-fifteen on twelve-thirteen and another black king will be taken from the scene," Snoop Dogg told mourners, reciting a poem about the execution.

Williams, 51, was put to death by injection at San Quentin Prison for the 1979 shotgun murders of a 7-Eleven clerk and three motel owners.

"The war within me is over. I battled my demons and I was triumphant," Williams said in a recording played to mourners, whom he asked to spread a message to their loved ones.

"Teach them how to avoid our destructive footsteps. Teach them to strive for higher education. Teach them to promote peace and teach them to focus on rebuilding the neighborhoods that you, others and I helped to destroy."

Rick Hayes, 36, of Compton, wore a T-shirt with the slogan, "What does redemption mean ... " which he had made. If Williams, who wrote children's books warning against gang life, was unable to earn clemency, "what can a black man do, what can he do in society, to get another chance at life?" Hayes asked.

In his will, Williams asked that his remains be cremated and the ashes scattered over South Africa.