Justin M. Sharp, a 25-year-old male from Springfield, Illinois, passed away on January 31, 2014. Justin was born on August 4, 1988, in Springfield, and he was the son of Mike and Jackie Sharp. He attended Petersburg Elementary School and graduated from Sacred Heart Griffin High School, where he played on the soccer team. Justin loved playing soccer and skateboarding and was baptized in the Methodist faith. He is survived by his parents, grandmother, sister, brothers, nieces, nephews, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The circumstances surrounding Justin's death were tragic. He was found shot to death in a yard on the 2700 block of Whittier Avenue in Springfield. Justin was reportedly a marijuana dealer, and his death was the result of a violent encounter. Several months after the incident, three individuals were arrested and charged in connection with his murder. Korodney Jones, Floyd Williams, and Demetriana Ross were charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and home invasion. However, the charges did not stick, and all three defendants ended up pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
Floyd Williams, the alleged trigger man, was the first to plead guilty and had charges dismissed in exchange for his plea. He received a 20-year sentence and could be free in 10 years with time off for good behavior. Korodney Jones also had charges dismissed in exchange for his plea to second-degree murder and received a 10-year sentence, with the possibility of being released in five years. Demetriana Ross pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a five-year sentence, with all other charges dismissed. She could be free in less than three years. Ross cooperated with the police and helped solve the crime by leading them to the other individuals involved, including the shooter.
State's Attorney John Milhiser stated that prosecutors believed the defendants were trying to buy drugs from Justin at his home when the killing occurred. The defendants planned to argue self-defense, and second-degree murder was the applicable conviction when someone acts unreasonably in the belief they are acting in self-defense. Prosecutors concentrated on getting a conviction against Williams, and Ross's cooperation was instrumental in solving the case.
