Jordan T. Moore, a 17-year-old African American male from Columbus, OH, tragically died on December 16, 2015. He was fatally shot at a house in the 1200 block of Dellwood Avenue on the East Side of Columbus. Moore was among a group of young people gathered at the house when he was shot with a handgun at around 1:09 a.m. He was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries at 2:27 a.m.
The suspect in Moore's death is Malik J.
Whatley, a 19-year-old from South Linden. Whatley, who was friends with Moore, confessed to the shooting, claiming it was unintentional. According to court documents, Whatley was handling a loaded gun when it discharged, striking Moore. Whatley was on probation at the time for an earlier aggravated robbery conviction. He was charged with murder and later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Whatley and Moore had been clowning around with the gun while video-chatting with two girls. Whatley admitted to not realizing there was a bullet in the chamber when he pulled the trigger. The judge in the case noted that Whatley's lack of truthfulness at the scene caused a delay in medical treatment for Moore, which might have impacted his chances of survival.
Whatley was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of Jordan T. Moore. The judge emphasized that while Whatley did not intend to kill Moore, his actions led to the tragic outcome. Whatley expressed remorse and apologized to Moore's family during the sentencing hearing.
The case highlights the devastating consequences of handling firearms irresponsibly and the importance of truthfulness during emergencies. Jordan T. Moore's death left a lasting impact on his family, friends, and community, who continue to remember him fondly.
