A security guard who worked for Katt Williams is set to go on trial on first-degree murder charges in the death of comedian Reggie Carroll.

Tranell Williams was arrested last year after the shooting and was formally indicted by a grand jury on Thursday. He has not denied the shooting but maintains that it was an act of self-defense. He is currently out on bail and is expected to appear in court once proceedings on the case begin.

Katt Williams’ Guard Hit With First-Degree Murder Charge

Months after Tranell made headlines in connection with the fatal shooting of Reggie Carroll, he has now been formally indicted by a grand jury in Mississippi, per News Nation.

The grand jury returned the indictment on Thursday, officially clearing the way for prosecutors to move forward with first-degree murder charges against Tranell. Carroll was killed in August 2025 after reportedly being shot multiple times during an altercation inside a Southaven home the two men shared.

With the indictment now finalized, the case is expected to proceed to additional pretrial hearings and eventually to trial. However, officials have not yet announced a timeline for his next court appearance.

If convicted on the first-degree murder charge, Tranell could face a sentence of life imprisonment under Mississippi law. He is currently out on bail under strict conditions, including electronic monitoring through an ankle device.

Tranell Williams Claims Reggie Carroll Pulled Guns On Him

Since his arrest last year, Tranell has repeatedly maintained his innocence and reaffirmed his position during an interview with NewsNation affiliate WREG-TV.

He claimed that during the three months he and Carroll lived together, the comedian allegedly pulled guns on him multiple times, including on the night of the shooting.

Tranell further stated that he had originally been living alone before Katt allegedly sent Carroll to stay with him.

“I’m a real employee, and then the guy who was pulling the guns on me was a comedian who was also on tour with Katt Williams, but he got kicked out of Katt Williams’ mansion, and that’s why Katt sent him to the house to stay with me,” Tranell said.

Katt Williams’ Guard Says Fatal Shooting Was ‘100% Self-Defense’

During the interview, Tranell claimed he had, on several occasions, recorded Carroll allegedly threatening him and behaving violently.

He said he hopes the recordings will prove useful during the trial, where he plans to continue arguing that the shooting was an act of self-defense.

“I’ve been saying like, you know, if they’re gonna do an indictment, then I’m ready to go to trial because I know for a fact that this was 100% self-defense. I ran ten times,” Tranell stated passionately.

“The guy was doing crystal meth and doing molly pills right in front of me. So, if I did get an indictment, that’s the only way we would have the subpoena power to obtain a toxicology report,” he added.

Tranell Argues Video Supports His Self-Defense Claim

One of the videos Tranell referenced was previously shared during an interview with FOX13 Memphis last year.

The footage, recorded on the night Carroll was shot, allegedly showed the late 52-year-old making threatening gestures toward Tranell while holding a firearm.

To Tranell, his actions should not be seen as criminal, as he believes Carroll had repeatedly shown himself to be irresponsible with a firearm. “If someone is showing signs that they are irresponsible with a firearm, if they’re constantly making threats with a firearm, we have to intervene early, or that will gradually grow with a snowball effect and grow into a bigger problem,” he said.

Katt Williams’ Bodyguard Claimed He Feared For His Life

Tranell also told the outlet that he was “honestly in fear” for his life, particularly during the moment when Carroll allegedly blocked the door while pointing a gun at him.

“When I grabbed the weapon that was close by and used it for self-defense and called the police immediately, I was honestly in fear for my life,” he shared.

Defending himself further, Tranell claimed his prior experiences of being threatened by Carroll led him to believe the comedian had become increasingly emboldened and would likely have continued on that path.

“I’ve already reported him on several occasions that he’s pointing a gun at me, and since he’s not being punished, there was nothing to deter him from constantly doing that,” Tranell noted.