On the morning of June 27, 2022, Casandra Jones, a 48-year-old mother and grandmother, was leaving her New Orleans home for her job as a deputy clerk in Orleans Parish. Her life was cut tragically short when she was fatally shot in a parking lot on Iberville Street. The Black woman, originally from Mississippi, was known for her independent and outgoing spirit.
The man accused of her murder was her 32-year-old ex-boyfriend, BJ Brown.
The killing was particularly brazen, with Brown allegedly shooting Jones in an execution-style manner. The horrific act was reportedly filmed and shared on social media. Video footage showed a man with a long gun approaching Jones and shooting her twice more as she lay on the ground. A month prior to her death, Jones had filed for a restraining order against Brown, alleging a history of severe abuse, including being punched, choked, kicked, and sexually abused. Brown, however, never appeared in court for the order.
Following the murder, Brown fled the state, sparking a multi-state manhunt. His attempt to evade justice led to more violence when he shot and wounded a police officer in Erin, Tennessee, during a traffic stop. After an extensive search in a heavily wooded area, Brown was apprehended. He was subsequently convicted for the attempted murder of the police officer and sentenced to life in prison in Tennessee.
In November 2024, BJ Brown died in prison while serving his life sentence. His death occurred before he could be tried for the murder of Casandra Jones in New Orleans. Jones's daughters expressed mixed emotions upon learning of Brown's death, stating they had received 'justice through Jesus' but were saddened they would never get to confront him in court and ask why he took their mother's life.
