Tanesha Renea Williams, 25   –   Diamond Shanay Johnson, 28


UPDATE—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, October 4, 2021, Tanesha Renea Williams, 26 of Waldorf, entered a plea in Charles County Circuit Court, in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier, to First-Degree Assault, four counts of Second-Degree Assault, and Malicious Destruction of Property.

On March 31, 2021, officers responded to the Taco Bell located at 91 Smallwood Drive in Waldorf for the report of a disorderly subject at the drive-thru window. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the front entrance doors to the Taco Bell were shattered. Officers also contacted multiple victims who were struck by a vehicle. Victims reported that the suspect, later determined to be Williams, fled in a silver Hyundai Sonata.

An investigation, which included the gathering of video of the incident, revealed that Williams, a customer at the Taco Bell, was in her vehicle at the drive-thru lane ordering position when she became involved in an argument with a Taco Bell employee.  Prior to driving up to the drive-thru window, Williams exited her vehicle and approached the drive-thru window on foot and assaulted the Taco Bell employee.  Shortly after the assault at the drive-thru window, Williams returned to her vehicle and drove to the front of the Taco Bell. 

While at the front of the restaurant, but still in her vehicle, Williams argued with numerous Taco Bell employees who had exited the store and were on foot, standing near the front entrance.  Williams was fully stopped in her vehicle.  At one point, Williams revved her engine and drove forward towards the group as if to strike them with her vehicle but stopped. She then backed her vehicle up.  Instead of exiting the parking lot at that time, Williams again drove her car forward but this time she did not stop and drove into and through the group of employees.  After striking the employees, Williams continued forward right through the front doors of the Taco Bell destroying property.  Williams then backed out of the Taco Bell building and fled the scene in her car. At no time during the altercation was Williams blocked in or prevented from leaving Taco Bell property.

Williams’ sentencing hearing has been set for January 12, 2022, at 1 p.m.  In total, she faces a maximum sentence of 65 years, 60 days incarceration.

LA PLATA, Md. —Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Friday, April 23, 2021 a Charles County Grand Jury indicted Tanesha Renea Williams for allegedly driving a vehicle into a Taco Bell located on Smallwood Drive in Waldorf on March 31, 2021.

C-08-CR-21-000161

• 5 counts of First-Degree Assault
• 7 counts of Second-Degree Assault
• Malicious Destruction of Property/Value Less Than $1,000
• Disorderly Conduct
• Reckless Driving

Co-Defendant Diamond Shanay Johnson was also indicted on Friday, April 23, 2021 by a Charles County Grand Jury with the following charges:

C-08-CR-21-000162

• 2 counts of Second-Degree Assault
• Disorderly Conduct

An initial appearance has been scheduled for Williams and Johnson on May 28, 2021.

WALDORF, Md. – Charles County Sheriff’s patrol officers have identified and arrested two women in connection with an assault that occurred at the Taco Bell on Smallwood Drive on March 31.

In the case, Tanesha Renea Williams, 25, of Waldorf, who was driving a sedan, had placed an order at the drive-thru. As she pulled up to the cashier, she and a passenger in the car, Diamond Shanay Johnson, 28, of Waldorf, began arguing with the employee over the food order. Both Williams and Johnson exited the car and approached the employee who was still standing at the drive-thru window. Williams assaulted the employee at the window before both she and Johnson got back into the car. Williams then drove to the front of the restaurant where several people were standing outside of the front doors. Williams drove her car toward the group of people, backed up, and then drove toward the group again, striking and injuring several people as she continued forward crashing through the front doors. After the assault, Williams backed her car out of the restaurant and fled the scene. Several people were treated for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.

Patrol officers responded and after a thorough investigation, positively identified both the driver and occupant. Arrest warrants were obtained on April 3 and members of the CCSO’s Warrant Unit located the suspects and served the warrants on April 5. Williams was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, traffic violations, and other related charges. Johnson was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and other related charges. Both suspects are currently being held at the Charles County Detention Center with no bond.

UPDATE: On March 31 at 10:23 p.m., officers responded to a fast food restaurant on Smallwood Drive for the report of an assault.

A preliminary investigation revealed the occupants of a vehicle started an argument with an employee who was working at the drive-thru window. During the argument, one of the suspects got out of the car, assaulted the employee at the window and then got back in the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle left the drive-thru, drove to the front of the business, and then drove the vehicle through a group of people, including employees, who were standing outside of the front doors.

The vehicle continued inside the restaurant and then the driver backed out and fled in the car. Two people were treated on the scene by paramedics and one person was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.

Officers located the vehicle at a nearby house. At this time, officers are pursuing leads to positively identify the driver and occupants and they are evaluating video evidence; charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to call Officer Stine at 301-932-2222. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app. Crime Solvers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspects.

LOGO PROVIDED BY TACO BELL NEWSROOM (via Matt Prince)

WALDORF, Md. — We are receiving reports of an “attempted murder” in the area of Smallwood Drive after a dispute at the service window of the St. Charles Taco Bell took a turn for the worse.

At approximately 10:52 p.m. on March 31, police were dispatched to the fast food restaurant for reports that a silver Hyundai carrying two black females had struck the lobby of the Taco Bell after fighting with employees at the drive-thru. 

Fluids were reported to have been leaking from the vehicle.

We do not have the status of any other injuries to report as of this time.

The building will be closed temporarily so that a building inspector can examine the structural damage. 

This is a developing story. We will continue to provide more details as we receive them.

Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com