On October 10, 2020, 40-year-old Bernadette 'Chasity' Cooper was shot and killed inside her home in the 8800 block of Shannon Fox Circle in Jennings, Missouri. The violent episode, which took place in the early afternoon, began after Cooper’s boyfriend of eight months became angry because he believed the house was untidy. The argument escalated rapidly when the boyfriend, Joseph Jones, produced a handgun and opened fire on Cooper and her children.
Cooper was fatally struck during the shooting, dying at the scene from her injuries.
The attack resulted in further tragedy for the family, as Jones also targeted Cooper’s children. Her 6-year-old daughter, Doryan 'Pig' Bryant, was shot and killed. Two of Cooper's other daughters were wounded in the gunfire but survived the assault. One of the surviving children, a 10-year-old girl, was credited by family members with saving her sister's life by jumping in front of her during the shooting. After the violence ceased, Jones reportedly sat on a couch in the living room and smoked a cigarette while waiting for law enforcement to arrive.
Joseph Jones, who was 40 years old at the time of the offense, was taken into custody and initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and multiple counts of armed criminal action. Jones had a prior criminal history that included felony convictions for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm. Following his arrest, he was held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
The case concluded in the legal system nearly four years later. On February 5, 2024, Joseph Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and attempted first-degree assault. Although he had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the court found him competent to enter the plea. In accordance with the plea agreement, a judge sentenced Jones to life in prison plus an additional 20 years.
