Barris Jones, a 22-year-old male, was killed on May 26, 2014, in Memphis, Tennessee. The fatal encounter occurred in broad daylight at an apartment complex in the Hickory Hill neighborhood. Jones was in the simple act of taking out his trash when he was suddenly pursued by three individuals.
The chase ended behind his girlfriend's apartment building, where he was knocked to the ground.
One of the men punched him, another struck him with a pistol, and a third, later identified as Anthony Thompson, shot him multiple times. In total, Jones was shot 11 times. He was rushed to the Regional Medical Center in extremely critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Following an investigation into the brazen killing, Anthony Thompson was identified as the shooter. He managed to evade capture for approximately 11 months before being apprehended. Thompson was subsequently charged with first-degree premeditated murder. According to testimony from a co-defendant, the motive for the brutal attack was an alleged theft of $900 by Jones from Thompson.
In October 2015, a jury convicted Anthony Thompson of first-degree murder after deliberating for only about 20 minutes. He was sentenced to life in prison. Two other men, Keron Cowan, 29, and Thelron Richards, 24, were also charged in connection with the death of Barris Jones, and their cases were reported to be pending at the time of Thompson's conviction.
