Preston Jerome Scott, also known as PJ OneEight, was a 29-year-old African American male who tragically lost his life on April 1, 2019, in Waco, Texas. On that fateful night, police were called to the area of Dallas and Carver Streets around 10:45 p.m. following a report of a "man down." Upon arrival, they found Scott lying unresponsive in the street with an apparent gunshot wound to his back.
He was immediately transported to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:30 p.m.
The investigation into Scott's death quickly identified two suspects: Casey Wade Hughes and Justice Allen Stanford. Both men were initially charged with capital murder for their involvement in the shooting. The suspects were apprehended later that month in Clinton, Arkansas, after a police officer noticed suspicious behavior from one of the men at an Exxon station. The officer's instincts led to the discovery that the vehicle they were driving had been stolen from Texas, which ultimately connected them to the Waco case.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, both Hughes and Stanford entered guilty pleas to reduced charges of murder. Casey Wade Hughes was sentenced to 35 years in prison, while Justice Allen Stanford received a 30-year sentence. Both men waived their right to appeal, bringing some measure of closure to the case. The McLennan County District Attorney, Josh Tetens, expressed hope that the guilty pleas would provide some solace to Scott's family and emphasized the importance of addressing drug-related violence in the community.
Scott, a local rapper known by his stage name PJ OneEight, was remembered fondly by friends and family. His friend and music partner, Paul White, described him as a good, funny person who loved the world and had dreams of making it big. Despite the tragic circumstances of his death, Scott's memory lives on through the love and admiration of those who knew him.
