Jasmine Nicole Hines, a 22-year-old Black woman from Chattanooga, Tennessee, had her life tragically cut short on September 5, 2016. In the early hours of Labor Day, she was fatally shot inside a home on Pinewood Drive. The violent incident also resulted in the death of 23-year-old Rashaud Taylor, and a third individual was injured but survived. The Chattanooga Police Department responded to the scene, beginning an investigation that would bring a grieving family some measure of justice.
Jasmine was a vibrant member of her community. She had attended Ooltewah High School and later graduated from Hamilton County Adult High School. Active in her youth, she participated in summer track with the Chattanooga Jetts and even competed in the Junior Olympics. At the time of her death, she was an employee at Convergys and was continuing her education at Chattanooga State. Tragically, this was not the first time her family had been struck by such a devastating loss; Jasmine had witnessed her own father's murder just months before her death.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to identify 32-year-old Stephen Mobley as the suspect. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the murders. During the trial, witness testimony revealed that Mobley had been involved in a heated altercation with Jasmine and Rashaud on the night of the shootings. The prosecution argued that Mobley's anger and frustration escalated, leading him to commit the murders. Ultimately, Stephen Mobley was convicted for the deaths of Jasmine Hines and Rashaud Taylor and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
