D.J. Williams has been released from prison and is returning home to Virginia. The guitarist, who leads his own Shots Fired project and plays guitar with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, was detained in the Middle East while visiting family due to “a series of missteps.”

In a statement Williams said, “I’ve been released from the prison and headed back to the states right now with my mother. I’m not ready to speak to anyone but family right now but please know that my heart is overflowing with love and my eyes are filled with tears of gratitude for the amount of support you’ve all shown me. Thank you. This has been the hardest challenge I’ve ever faced and I am physically and emotionally exhausted but I plan to return a stronger, better man taking nothing for granted. Much love.”

Williams’ friends and family established a GoFundMe to help him return home safely.