Arthur Williams Expected to Be Charged with First-Degree Murder in Killing of OC Drummer Dave McCabe

UPDATE – Arthur Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the July 20, 2019 killing of drummer Dave McCabe, according to published reports. The plea was entered Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, before Williams was to go on trial for the killing. Williams will be sentenced on Jan. 31 and is facing 15 years to life, according to reports.

Read our original report of Aug. 8, 2019 here:

Arthur Williams who is in custody for killing rock drummer Dave McCabe, will go before an Orange County judge Friday at 10 a.m. to be arraigned on charges of first-degree murder.

Williams is expected to be charged with first-degree murder under California Penal Code 187 (a) PC, in the killing of the 48-year-old McCabe. The late McCabe was a well-known figure in the rock world in Orange County.

Under Penal Code 187 (a) PC, “murder” is defined as “the unlawful killing of a human being or a fetus with malice aforethought.”

Knightenders with Dave McCabe on drums – courtesy

McCabe was found dead in the street on July 20 near a local punk club, where he had been been known to practice and had been performing. Williams, whose full name is Arthur Fenwick Williams, 34, was apprehended on July 26.

The murder left McCabe’s friends and family as well as fellow musicians in his band Knightenders in a state of shock and grief. A motive is not known in the killing.

Info on arraignment location is here.