Baltimore development authority leader fired after confrontation with artist captured in social video

The executive director of a Baltimore development authority whose verbal brawl with a local artist was captured on video has been fired, the organization confirmed Friday.

Chad Williams led the West North Avenue Development Authority, an entity created by Maryland law to manage funds appropriated by the city and state to revitalize part of West Baltimore.

An Instagram post that circulate this week showed Williams, who is a state government official, in a heated exchange with an artist about his behavior toward women. At one point, an associate of Williams tried to pull him away.

In 2023, Williams was charged in his home state of Nevada with domestic battery. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count in that case and was given six months of probation and had to perform community service and take domestic violence classes, according to Nevada court documents.

The statement from the authority’s board on Friday did not give a reason for his dismissal.

Williams could not immediately be reached for comment.

“The WNADA Board determined that this is the appropriate time for a leadership transition as we move into the next phase of the organization’s work,” Vice Chairman Harry Coker Jr., who also is the state secretary of Commerce, wrote in a statement to The Banner. “We expect to announce new executive leadership shortly.”

The authority focuses on housing, economic development and transportation with political backing, community partnerships, and anchor institutions such as Coppin State University.

Coppin representatives did not respond to request for comment.

Williams previously told The Banner he was looking forward to the authority “giving people hope and opportunity in West Baltimore so that they can continue to live, stay and invest in their neighborhoods.”

Sen. Antonio Hayes, who grew up in West Baltimore, and Del. Marlon Amprey championed the 2021 legislation that established the authority. Amprey and Hayes could not immediately be reached for comment.

Prior to his appointment as executive director of the West North Avenue Development Authority, Williams served as Executive Director of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority in Las Vegas, prior to his appointment at WNADA.

There he led a $150 million annual operating authority with 240 employees, according to the WNADA website.

Williams is a native of Washington, D.C. and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of the District of Columbia, the website says.