In the summer of 2015, a violent encounter in Savannah, Georgia, claimed the life of 34-year-old Jamon Epps. On the evening of June 25th, Epps was driving a black SUV with Lawrence Bernard Hughes, Jr. and others as passengers. They pulled into the parking area of a Chinese restaurant in Chatham County where a shootout erupted with unidentified individuals.
During the exchange of gunfire, a bullet struck Epps in the back of the neck, killing him.
Following the fatal shot, Hughes, a convicted felon who was armed at the time, exited the disabled vehicle. He then approached a woman, Janie Geiger, who was in her car across the street. Brandishing a firearm, he carjacked her vehicle and fled the scene. Law enforcement later located the abandoned car, and blood evidence found on the steering wheel and driver's door was a match to Hughes. The black SUV Epps had been driving was discovered the next day at The Ponderosa Apartments.
In January 2016, authorities arrested 30-year-old Lawrence Bernard Hughes, Jr. in connection with the death of Jamon Epps. He was subsequently indicted in April of that year on multiple charges, including two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, hijacking a motor vehicle, armed robbery, and several counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
A jury trial was held from September 4 to 7, 2018. The jury acquitted Hughes of one count of felony murder and the underlying aggravated assault charge. However, he was found guilty on the remaining counts, including the felony murder charge predicated on possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court sentenced Hughes to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder and armed robbery, to be served consecutively with additional time for the other convictions. Hughes later appealed his convictions, but the Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the jury's verdict in November 2020.
