Delvin Johnson

Delvin Johnson, a 39-year-old Black man remembered by a friend as an "outstanding guy," was a father who, despite life's difficulties, was trying to get his life together. In his youth, he had been a talented football player, representing Hazlehurst High School as a defensive tackle in the 2006 Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic. Friends and family knew him as a man striving to do right by his loved ones, making his sudden and violent death a devastating blow to his community.

The crisp autumn quiet of a South Jackson neighborhood was shattered by gunfire in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Just before 5:00 a.m., an altercation erupted inside a residence at 1735 Waycona Drive, off Shady Lane near Raymond Road. During the dispute, at least one person produced a handgun and fired multiple shots. When Jackson Police Department officers arrived at the home, they found Delvin Johnson deceased from several gunshot wounds.

Two other men were also injured in the shooting. Earl Clark, 59, and 18-year-old Quwandarius Allen were both transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The scene was one of chaos and heartbreak. One of Delvin's daughters arrived at the house after hearing the news about her father. His girlfriend's aunt, Tonia Gathings, recounted a frantic phone call from her niece who was inside the house during the shooting. "She said, 'I just called 911 and (police) are here.' She said, 'But I tried to give him CPR.' She just broke down and dropped the phone and that was the end of the conversation," Gathings said.

The investigation into the triple shooting began immediately. Jackson Police detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the deadly violence. In the initial stages, Commander Tyree Jones stated, "We still don't have a motive or what exactly happened. We're still in the preliminary stages." However, based on their preliminary findings, investigators identified one of the wounded men, Quwandarius Allen, as the person responsible for the shooting.

Later that same day, the Jackson Police Department announced that they had arrested Allen. He was charged with one count of murder for the death of Delvin Johnson and one count of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of Earl Clark. Allen was treated for his own gunshot wound while in custody. A friend of Delvin's, Shonda Robinson, reflected on his character amidst the tragedy. "Everybody has a little difficulties in their lives, but other than that, he was trying to get it together," she said. "Overall, to me, he was an outstanding guy."

Court records show that in October 2015, Quwandarius Allen pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and aggravated assault. A Hinds County Circuit Court judge sentenced him to serve 20 years for manslaughter and a concurrent 10-year sentence for aggravated assault. The plea and sentencing brought a legal conclusion to the case, confirming that the person responsible for Delvin Johnson's death was held accountable under the law.

Though the criminal case is closed, the loss for Delvin Johnson's family and friends remains. They remember a father and a friend who was taken from them senselessly. His death was a profound tragedy for his children and all who knew him, a life cut short just as he was working toward a better future.