In the summer of 2022, the life of Cedric Mahaffey, a 29-year-old husband, father, and jeweler, was tragically cut short. On the evening of Saturday, August 20, residents of a Birmingham, Alabama neighborhood on Francis Place S.W. heard gunshots. When police arrived, they discovered Mahaffey's body inside a vacant home. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including fatal injuries to his head and heart, and also had about a dozen cuts on his arm.
Investigators noted that while the victim's cell phone and wallet were still at the scene, his white Mercedes Benz was missing.
Mahaffey, known for his business, Golds by Ced, was a respected member of his community. Friends and family believe he was lured to the vacant house under the pretense of a business meeting with a client, a common practice for his trade where he would often travel to meet customers for fittings or deliveries. The investigation soon focused on text messages found on Mahaffey's phone, which detailed a planned meeting with someone interested in purchasing a grill. These digital breadcrumbs proved to be a critical lead for detectives.
The electronic trail led investigators to identify two suspects: Jayveon Khiry Fleming and Joshua Jermaine Burns. The suspects had fled Alabama in Mahaffey's stolen Mercedes, driving to California. In October 2022, both Fleming and Burns were apprehended in Santa Clara County, California, in connection with a separate robbery attempt. Following their arrest, they were extradited back to Jefferson County, Alabama, to face charges for Mahaffey's death.
Both Jayveon Khiry Fleming and Joshua Jermaine Burns have been charged with capital murder during a robbery. During a preliminary hearing, a detective testified that the phone number used to set up the fatal meeting belonged to Fleming. Further evidence was uncovered when Mahaffey's car was recovered in California. Fingerprints from both Fleming and Burns were found inside the vehicle. Additionally, a witness came forward stating that Burns had confessed to her that he shot Mahaffey on Fleming's orders. The case was sent to a grand jury, and both men remain jailed without bond while awaiting trial.
