On a bustling Cinco de Mayo evening at Azteca's Restaurant & Cantina in Gulfport, Mississippi, a celebration turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 34-year-old Christopher Skinner. The restaurant on Highway 49 was overflowing with an estimated 300 to 400 patrons on the night of May 5, 2025. An argument that began inside the crowded establishment spilled out into the parking lot, escalating with tragic consequences.
As Gulfport police were already at the scene attempting
to manage the large crowd, gunshots rang out around 9:36 p.m. Officers discovered Christopher Skinner in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Skinner, a resident of Gulfport's Soria City community, was a licensed barber known for his big heart, beautiful smile, and infectious laugh. His obituary noted his participation in sports and events at the Gulfport Little Theater during his school years.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified 25-year-old Jordan Tyrick Johnson as the suspect. According to police, the altercation between Johnson and Skinner turned violent, leading Johnson to pull out a gun and shoot Skinner multiple times before fleeing the scene. A few days after the incident, Johnson reportedly admitted to a friend during a FaceTime call, 'He punched me, and I shot him.' Following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest on a charge of first-degree murder, Johnson's father brought him to the Gulfport Police Department to turn himself in.
During legal proceedings, it was revealed that the altercation may have started after Skinner approached Johnson while he was talking to a woman inside the restaurant. Johnson's attorney argued that his client acted in self-defense after Skinner punched him in the face. Investigators found three. 45-caliber shell casings in the parking lot. A detective testified that after Skinner was shot and had fallen to the ground, Johnson fired two more rounds at him. Johnson, who had no prior felony convictions, had his bond reduced from $1 million to $500,000. The case is expected to be decided by a jury.
