In the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, a Sunday afternoon turned tragic for 33-year-old Stephen Mosley. On September 13, 2015, while mowing his lawn, Mosley was gunned down in a brazen daylight shooting. The sudden violence left his community in shock and sent police on a search for those responsible for his death. Mosley, a Black male, was a father and a prep cook, known by the nickname 'Duke.'
His unexpected and violent end set in motion an intensive investigation to bring his killers to justice.
The New Orleans Police Department quickly identified two suspects in the murder of Stephen Mosley: Herman Williams and Jamone Ross. Williams, who was 21 at the time, was considered a notorious figure in the Algiers area. Investigators believed that Williams was the gunman who fatally shot Mosley. The motive for the shooting was described as an ongoing dispute between the two men. Following the identification of the suspects, warrants were issued for their arrests, and a manhunt ensued to bring them into custody.
Within weeks of the murder, both suspects were apprehended. Herman Williams was arrested and booked with first-degree murder, while Jamone Ross was also taken into custody in connection with the crime. The case against them moved to the courts, where the legal process would determine their fate. In May 2017, Herman Williams pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison. His accomplice, Jamone Ross, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 20-year prison sentence for his role in the death of Stephen Mosley.
