The Columbia, Missouri, community is mourning the loss of 21-year-old Aiyanna Williams, a Stephens College senior nursing student and standout volleyball player, who tragically died after being shot early Sunday morning. The shooting occurred around 1:43 a.m. on East Broadway, leaving Williams and two others critically injured.
Despite doctors’ best efforts, she was declared brain dead only hours later.In a final act that reflected her lifelong compassion, Williams remained on life support so her organs could be donated to save others. Family, friends, and classmates say this decision was deeply in line with the way she lived her life — dedicated to helping people. “She was called to be a nurse,”
Stephens College said in a statement, describing her as a student who embodied both academic excellence and a caring heart.Williams was known on campus not only as an athlete but as a mentor and friend who radiated kindness. Teammates described her as a leader who pushed others to succeed while always offering encouragement.
Her professors recalled her determination to enter the medical field, driven by a passion to serve those in need.The tragedy has left her college and the broader Columbia community reeling. A memorial vigil is being planned by students and faculty, and the volleyball team intends to honor her by dedicating the rest of their season in her memory.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting, which also left two other victims injured. No arrests have been announced, but authorities urge anyone with information to come forward.For her family, Williams’ legacy will live on not only in the lives she touched personally but in those who will be saved through her organ donation. In life and in death, she remained committed to healing others.
