Jawhan Jones, a 46-year-old male, tragically died on February 20, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. He was found with a gunshot wound outside the Coronado Inn in Lubbock after an altercation that occurred in the early hours of the morning. Witnesses reported that Jones and others at the motel were smoking crack cocaine in a room before the incident. Jones entered a silver car in the parking lot of the motel to allegedly buy more drugs.
A witness in the car stated that the driver, Lacharles Deshoan Curtis, demanded money and pointed a gun at Jones. When Jones refused, he was shot in the vehicle and twice more outside after he got out.
Curtis was arrested the next day for an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation, and a search of his home yielded the firearm used in the crime. Forensic analysts found Curtis' DNA on the weapon, and Curtis admitted to possessing the revolver. However, he never admitted to shooting Jones and instead blamed his passenger, who was never charged due to lack of corroborating evidence. Curtis was initially charged with murder, but the charge was later dismissed as part of a plea deal where he pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. Curtis was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the case.
The investigation into Jones' death was conducted by the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit, and the case drew significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the subsequent legal proceedings. Jones' sister, Tina Hastie, traveled from Detroit to speak at Curtis' plea hearing, expressing her grief but also offering forgiveness.
This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of drug-related violence and the complexities of the legal system in addressing such cases.
