In the early hours of September 20, 2017, the quiet of a Mobile, Alabama, morning was broken by the discovery of a body. Forty-year-old Lakendrick Lucy, a Black male, was found deceased in the foyer of an apartment complex on North Ann Street. An investigation was immediately launched into his death, which was determined to be a result of a shooting.
The case took a swift turn when, within a day, two 17-year-old cousins, Jatavious Bailey and Jyquan Richardson, were taken into custody.
They were subsequently charged with the murder of Lakendrick Lucy. As details emerged, a narrative of a suspected revenge killing began to take shape. It was revealed that Lucy was in a relationship with Richardson's mother, and it was alleged that an altercation had occurred between them where Lucy had reportedly struck her. Investigators believed that in an act of retaliation for this alleged domestic violence, Richardson and his cousin Bailey sought out and fatally shot Lucy.
The two teenagers had their initial court appearance where the motive of a revenge killing was presented. Despite their young age, authorities announced their intention to charge them as adults. A bond of $100,000 was set for each of the teens as they awaited the next steps in the legal process. The case highlighted a tragic story of violence, with a man's life cut short and two young lives facing the severe consequences of their alleged actions in defense of a family member.
