In the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a 25-year-old African American man named Rayon Braxton, a well-known community organizer, was tragically killed on November 27, 2015. Braxton was the founder and operator of Braxton Hall, a community arts center and dance club located in the Big Ugly Warehouse on Carlisle Street. He was passionate about creating a safe space for local youth to engage in creative activities and was known for mentoring troubled teens, sometimes offering them a place to
stay if they were homeless.
On that fateful Friday evening, just after Thanksgiving, Braxton was found shot seven times on the third floor of the warehouse where he ran Braxton Hall. The shooting occurred shortly before a planned rap battle at the venue. Witnesses reported hearing several rapid gunshots and seeing one man leave Braxton Hall. A mechanic from a nearby garage who heard the shots and called 9-1-1 saw a car speed away from the scene in reverse before making a sharp turn and driving off. The two women who were scheduled to work as bartenders that night discovered Braxton's body in his office. His death was one of two homicides that occurred in Harrisburg within an hour of each other.
The investigation into Braxton's murder quickly led police to a suspect who knew the victim. On December 9, 2015, the same day as Braxton's funeral, Harrisburg police arrested 26-year-old Jerren Keith Stuckey and charged him with the murder. Officers had staked out Stuckey's unoccupied car and apprehended him when he returned and drove away. It was revealed that Stuckey and Braxton had attended high school together, and friends mentioned that Stuckey had previously worked at some events at Braxton Hall. The motive for the killing appeared to be a financial dispute, with one witness testifying that Stuckey had claimed Braxton owed him money and had threatened to kill him if he didn't pay.
Jerren Stuckey's trial began in October 2016. After a four-day trial and two days of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Stuckey was the only person seen leaving the warehouse after the gunshots were heard. On October 20, 2016, Stuckey was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His courtroom behavior was noted, as he made derogatory remarks towards the prosecutor and Braxton's mother before being removed from the courtroom. Stuckey later appealed his conviction, but his appeals were unsuccessful.
