In the early morning hours of June 27, 2020, the life of 26-year-old Jamarcus Cortez 'JuJu' Esmon, a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short on Edgewood Boulevard in Franklin, Tennessee. Responding to reports of gunfire shortly after 2:00 a.m., Franklin Police officers discovered Esmon on the ground outside, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the officers, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
His death marked the only homicide in the city of Franklin for that year.
The Franklin Police Department launched an extensive investigation into Esmon's murder, a case that deeply affected the local community and his loved ones. For nearly two years, detectives worked tirelessly, gathering evidence to bring those responsible to justice. Their persistent efforts eventually led to a breakthrough in the case.
In March 2022, the investigation culminated in the arrests of two individuals. Kiontez Waters, 23 years old at the time, was identified as the shooter. A Williamson County Grand Jury indicted him on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault resulting in death, and unlawful possession of a firearm. His bond was set at $100,000.
A second individual, 32-year-old Stephanie Holt, was also implicated in the crime. The grand jury indicted Holt for aiding Waters after Esmon's murder, and her bond was set at $10,000. The arrests were a collaborative effort involving the Franklin Police Department, the Metro Nashville Police Department, and the Columbia Police Department. Waters was apprehended at a gas station in Spring Hill, while Holt was taken into custody at her home in Columbia. The news of the arrests was personally delivered to Jamarcus Esmon's family by the investigators who had dedicated themselves to solving the case.
