Julissa Jackson, a 15-year-old African American girl, tragically lost her life on January 1, 2018, in Tampa, Florida. Julissa had recently given birth to a son two months prior to her death and was described by family members as having turned her life around, excited about her new role as a mother. On the night of her death, Julissa attended a teenage party at a warehouse known as "The Club," located near the intersection of North 50th Street and East Clifton Street.
The party, which typically hosted teen events on weekends, was shut down early due to multiple fights breaking out among the attendees.
As the party ended around 10:45 p.m., nearly 200 partygoers began to leave the venue. Julissa was given a ride to the party by a family friend, Jyhaad Grant, a 25-year-old man who also lost his life that night. Both Julissa and Jyhaad were shot and killed inside his vehicle by security guards employed by Eagle One Security Force. The security guards, Keyon Williams, 28, and Connor Harm, 18, claimed they fired their weapons out of fear for their lives after hearing what they believed to be gunshots coming from Grant's car.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation into the incident. According to the security guards, they initially heard fireworks and then gunshots as the crowd dispersed. They claimed to have seen gunfire coming from Grant's vehicle and responded by shooting back. However, the circumstances surrounding the shooting were unclear, with conflicting accounts about whether Grant was actually firing a gun or if the sounds were merely fireworks.
Further complicating the investigation, Grant was on probation and not supposed to possess a firearm. Hillsborough County arrest reports indicated that Grant had a history of charges, including carrying a concealed firearm and resisting arrest with violence. Despite his past, Grant was reportedly working to improve his life, having recently completed training to become a pharmacy technician.
The investigation revealed that two guns, a 9 mm pistol and a .380 caliber handgun, were found in Grant's vehicle. Despite this, no charges were immediately filed against the security guards, and the case remained under investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The tragic deaths of Julissa Jackson and Jyhaad Grant left their families and the community grappling with grief and unanswered questions about the events that led to their untimely demise.
