In the summer of 2019, a tragic case of mistaken identity cut short the life of a beloved member of the Jackson, Tennessee community. On the evening of July 27, 34-year-old Cole Felton, a Black male, was fatally shot while inside a vehicle on Cinnamon Drive. Another individual in the vehicle with Felton survived the attack and was able to provide investigators with a description of the shooter.
The Jackson Police Department, aided by a K-9 unit, followed a trail of shell casings from the scene which led them to a handgun discarded in the backyard of a nearby residence.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on a 16-year-old suspect, Gerald Crossley. Evidence recovered from Crossley's phone included video of him holding the murder weapon. Further forensic analysis revealed gunshot residue on both his hands and a black hoodie he was seen wearing. Authorities determined that Crossley, a member of the Ghost Mob, a subset of the Vice Lord street gang, had tragically misidentified Felton as a member of a rival gang. It was established that Felton himself had no gang affiliations.
In 2020, Gerald Crossley was indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. His trial concluded in January 2023, with the court sentencing him to life in prison for the murder of Cole Felton, along with additional sentences for the other charges. Cole Felton was remembered by his family and friends as a kind and loving man with a big heart, affectionately known as 'Uncle Cole' to all the children he met. His senseless death was a profound loss for his community, a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of gang violence.
