Sacramento police have nabbed the man suspected of murdering the aunt of NBA veteran Matt Barnes after the Los Angeles Clippers forward posted information on social media asking followers to assist investigators with tips and information leading to his whereabouts.
The body of 48-year-old Tanganyika Hoover was found bleeding and suffering from stab wounds to the upper body early last week on a residential sidewalk. Family members, including Barnes, later told police she was last known to be going to visit Michael Williams, her 51-year-old estranged husband.
“Having the platform that I had, I want to speak out on social media and I got some of my other friends to repost it and really just have the whole city of Sacramento on the lookout for this guy,” Barnes told reporters of posting information and photos of Williams on his Twitter and Instagram pages, where it attracted more than 15,000 likes.
Later, friend and actress Gabrielle Union reposted the information to her nearly two million followers.
“We are so grateful to everyone who helped us, from spreading the word thru social media to calling the Sacramento PD with your citizen tips,” Barnes later posted on social media. “It was a citizen tip that led police to Michael Williams’ very location. Thank you again for allowing me to be my auntie’s voice and to help bring this suspect in. Also, thank you to the Sac PD!”
From the very beginning, investigators embraced the idea of Barnes’ assistance, telling reporters “he’s a local kid, he has a following here in Sacramento and having his name attached with this and helping on this investigation will help us actually solve this matter,” said Police Chief Sam Somers.
The 34-year-old Barnes attended high school in Sacramento and has played eight of his 11 NBA seasons in his native California with the Clippers, Warriors, Kings, and Lakers.
