In a tragic turn of events on January 23, 2014, Jason Eubanks, a 36-year-old Black/African American male, was killed in Knoxville, Tennessee. His life was cut short during a violent struggle inside a car that had crashed on Grimes Avenue. Eubanks was in the vehicle with Cheralynn Sabatasso when an altercation erupted with another man, leading to fatal gunfire.
The incident, which prosecutors later described as a drug deal that had soured, resulted in the deaths of both Eubanks and
Sabatasso. The man responsible for the shooting was identified as Antoine Ward, a 40-year-old from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Investigators determined that Ward had intended to buy cocaine from Eubanks and Sabatasso. During the transaction, a struggle for a gun ensued, and Ward fired the weapon, killing both individuals. The prosecution would later characterize the killings as an 'execution.'
Following an investigation into the double homicide, Antoine Ward was arrested and charged with the murders. During his trial, Ward claimed that he had acted in self-defense, asserting that Eubanks had brandished the gun first. However, the jury rejected his version of events.
After deliberating, the jury found Antoine Ward guilty of the first-degree murder of Jason Eubanks and third-degree murder in the death of Cheralynn Sabatasso. Consequently, Ward was sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms for his crimes. His attorney stated an intention to appeal the conviction, but the court ultimately upheld the life sentences, ensuring that Ward would be held accountable for the deaths of Jason Eubanks and Cheralynn Sabatasso.
