On an evening in April 2016, the life of 24-year-old Jimeshia Gordon was tragically cut short in a shooting at the Cumberland Oaks Apartments in St. Marys, Georgia. The young mother of two was shot in the neck and, despite being airlifted to a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, succumbed to her injuries. In the chaos of the event, her 14-month-old daughter, Kamela, was also struck by a bullet, suffering a graze wound to her forehead. The toddler was treated at a local hospital and released to family members. Gordon was remembered by her family as a loving and caring person who was devoted to her two young daughters, who were just one and four years old at the time of their mother's death.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting saw law enforcement identify Gordon's 31-year-old live-in boyfriend, Roney Wilson, Jr., as a person of interest. Wilson fled the scene on foot, sparking a manhunt that would last for months. During this time, his sister revealed that he had contacted her, claiming the shooting was an accident and that he was afraid to turn himself in due to his criminal history. Wilson had a documented history of violent offenses, including charges of battery, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. The search for Wilson extended across the Southeast, with authorities in Nassau County, Florida, assisting in the effort.
Four months after the shooting, a tip led Federal Marshals to a pawn shop in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Roney Wilson was apprehended. He was taken into custody and held in the Marion County Jail in Indiana before being extradited back to Georgia to face charges. A warrant had been issued for his arrest on one count of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault. Upon his return to Camden County, he stood trial for the murder of Jimeshia Gordon and the assault on her daughter.
During the trial, which began in April 2018, Wilson maintained that the gun had discharged accidentally during an argument with Gordon. However, a Camden County jury found him guilty on five of six counts, including murder. Gordon's family, who had been raising her two daughters since her death, attended the trial, expressing their profound loss and hope for justice. Following the guilty verdict, Wilson was scheduled for sentencing the next month.
