In the early morning hours of December 23, 2016, a tragedy unfolded in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Royster Lane in Clarksville, Tennessee, that cut short the life of Joseph Gordon. The 25-year-old African American man was discovered deceased, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. First responders arrived at the scene around 1:06 a.m. and pronounced him dead.
The investigation into Gordon's death swiftly revealed that the violent encounter was the result of a drug deal gone wrong. Investigators identified two Fort Campbell soldiers, Robert Gough and Marqus Bryant, as being involved. Through surveillance footage and subsequent questioning, police determined that Gough and Bryant had arranged to meet with Gordon to purchase marijuana. Another individual, initially known only as 'Delo,' accompanied them.
According to statements made to the police, Gough was in Gordon's car discussing the transaction when 'Delo,' later identified as Deangelo Berry, exited the other vehicle and attempted to rob Gordon at gunpoint. During the attempted robbery, Berry shot Gordon. After the shooting, Bryant drove Gough and Berry away from the scene to a nearby residence where they divided the marijuana they had stolen from Gordon. Both Gough and Bryant were subsequently arrested and charged with criminal homicide.
In a significant development in the case, Deangelo Berry was apprehended in Chicago in January 2017 and extradited to Tennessee to face charges of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. In the months that followed, both Robert Gough and Marqus Bryant accepted plea deals. They pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder and agreed to testify against Berry, who was identified as the gunman. As a result of their cooperation, Bryant was sentenced to 13 and a half years in prison, while Gough received a 15-year sentence. The case against Deangelo Berry proceeded to trial, where he was ultimately convicted of first-degree felony murder and aggravated robbery. He received a sentence of life in prison plus nine years. His subsequent appeal of the conviction was denied.
